Music Ministries

Gabriel Saldaña

Music Director, Organist

music@stcatherineoncatalinaisland.org

Thomas Bauer

Cantor/Grand Knight

Tony Rodriguez

Spanish music coordinator

Saint Catherine's has a small group of music volunteers for both the English and Spanish Masses.

The English Masses consist of traditional and semi-contemporary hymn selections with an organist and cantor. Piano is also used on occasion. Our Rodgers 905 digital organ was donated to us by the Avalon Community Church and has served us well for more than 16 years. Our Yamaha clavinova electronic piano was donated by local musician and parish volunteer, Martha Ashleigh.

Our primary Mass setting for the 9:00am and 11:00am masses is the Mass of Christ the Savior by Dan Schutte. The 5:15pm mass on Saturday uses the Mass of Joy and Peace by Tony Alonso.

The musicians may change Mass setting for special occasions.

Due to low volunteership and job conflicts, some weekend Masses may be celebrated solemnly (without music). We welcome new and visiting musicians! Please contact our music director before joining us so that he may inform the priest for that Mass.

The Spanish Masses consist of a keyboardist and small choir with contemporary Spanish music selections.

Please contact us if you wish to volunteer to join the music ministry.

Email: music@stcatherineoncatalinaisland.org

Special Event Music

Music for weddings, funerals, and baptisms is not provided through the standard donation for those events. Musical accompaniment for your special event must be coordinated separately with the desired musician(s). Payment for special events must be arranged with the musician. Please know that many of our musicians are volunteers with the parish, and have job obligations outside of church Mass.

~ The Music Director has informed us that his services are not available for special events between Memorial Day and October 1st due to the busy summer season. ~

Visiting and hired musicians are welcome to use the church organ or digital piano for special events, but must contact the church Music Director to coordinate availability of the instruments and have them unlocked.

Former music staff of St. Catherine's:

Wayne G. Griffin

Organist/Music Director (1987-2015)

Justyna Szymura

Associate Organist (2009-2013)

Martha Ashleigh (✝)

Pianist (Volunteer-part time) (2009-2020)

Gabriel Saldana (previous position)

Associate Organist (2010-2015)

Susan Ponce

Cantor (ND-2020)

Jerry Thissan (✝)

Cantor/Chorister (2010-2013)

Michael Ponce

Cantor (ND-2016)

ND- No date/date unknown

St. Catherine's also had a small choir composed of local parishioners, off-and-on between 2009 and 2014. We thank those parishioners for their dedication to our church music ministry!