“Joy to the World” and “Jingle Bells” were two of the songs played by Marquette’s concert band at the Christmas Tree Lighting Dec. 6.
But as the lights flickered on for the first time this season — and Christmas carols begin to fill the air — one group on campus has been consistently bringing music to campus: The liturgical choir.
“The liturgical choir is primarily singing at mass. That’s something I had done back in my hometown, back when it was just a few people,” Autumn Paulus, a sophomore in the College of Engineering, said. “I saw their poster, and I thought, ‘That sounds like something I did back home and I would like to keep doing.'”
The liturgical choir sings at the 6 p.m. mass at the Church of the Gesu every Sunday and is hosted by Campus Ministry.
“I’ve always liked singing since I was a little kid,” Paulus said. “I heard this quote one time that was like ‘If you’re singing something it’s like you’re praying twice.’ It’s just a different way to engage with the material, which definitely speaks to me since I’m more musically inclined.”
While they practice twice a week, Paulus said it doesn’t feel as intense as some of the other choirs on campus may be.
“Everyone’s just here to have fun,” Paulus said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re an amazing singer or not, the director works with people of all different levels … It’s just kind of nice and chill and a great community to be in.”
Like Paulus, Lauren Pfeifer, a senior in the College of Business Administration and president of the liturgical choir, said her love for singing began at an early age while singing at her private elementary school.
“We had weekly masses there and I started singing at those masses and cantoring,” Pfeifer said. “That’s kind of how I got started and then I went to a public high school and I continued singing in choir there.”
She has been performing in the liturgical choir since her first year after her two older brothers, who also attended Marquette, recommended it to her.
“It might seem like a cliché, but I feel like everyone jams out to music in their car and sings along to their favorite songs, so I don’t think it’s as much of a hidden talent as some people may think it is,” Pfeifer said. “I just always enjoyed music. I just feel like singing is a good outlet and something that I think a lot more people do than what meets the eye.”
Andrew Mountin, assistant director of campus ministry for liturgical music, strives to continue spreading joy through music. Mountin was involved in the choir as a student at Marquette, and after moving around the country for a few years for graduate studies and work, Mountin returned to Marquette this past July.
He said his favorite memory of this choir is actually getting to help prepare the Lessons and Carols performance as a student.
“Back then it was a collaboration between the University Chorus and the Liturgical Choir, and both groups were larger than they are now. Getting to sing with or even witness 100+ singers performing anything is a powerful experience,” Mountin said in an email. “It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that some of the memories of Lessons and Carols were so significant that I’ve dedicated my life to trying to build those memories for others.”
