Department of Music (back to top)
The Music Department of St. Mary Star of the Sea Church is dedicated to giving glory to God through the use of the finest liturgical music available. To reach this goal, we strive to follow with faithfulness the actual prescriptions of the Vatican II and Postconciliar Liturgical Documents of the Church. An important goal is the development of a worthy Catholic Musical Heritage in this church. The Music Department of St. Mary Star of the Sea Church is committed to the highest standard possible, motivated by the belief that the gifts brought to God should be the very best possible gifts entrusted to us that we lovingly return to Him.
Diane Meredith Belcher has been a professional church musician
(Organist and Choral Director) for over 30 years, having served
churches in Philadelphia, Rochester, NY, Syracuse, Memphis, and
Baltimore, and was the founding director of the Memphis Concert
Chorale. She is also an internationally renowned concert artist and
pedagogue who has performed at many of the country's most prestigious
halls, cathedrals, churches, and universities since her debut at age
fifteen, and has taught at several distinguished colleges and
universities. A frequent guest artist at music festivals and
conventions, she has been soloist with several major orchestras, and
has performed in Europe and Canada. Her concert career is managed by
Karen McFarlane Artists.
A graduate of both The Curtis Institute of Music and The Eastman
School of Music, she has been Director of Music/Organist at St. Mary
Star of the Sea Parish in Beverly, Massachusetts since September 2011.
Prior positions have included Organist/Choirmaster at Old St. Paul's
Parish, Baltimore; Co-Organist/Choirmaster at Saint Mark's Church,
Philadelphia; Assistant Professor of Organ at Westminster Choir
College; Organ Instructor at The University of Pennsylvania; and
Instructor in Music Theory at The University of Memphis. She is a
member of The Association of Anglican Musicians, The American Guild of
Organists, and The Organ Historical Society. She has a particular
interest in mentoring young musicians, fine contemporary classical
music (“art music”,) baroque chamber music and the
history/preservation of fine pipe organs, and is the composer of a
small body of sacred music.
The Choirs and Cantors of St. Mary Star of the Sea Church
The Adult Choir
The Adult Choir of St. Mary Star of the Sea Church is the primary liturgical choir of the parish, and is open to all members of the parish who are age 18+. This choir sings at all major parish liturgies. On a weekly basis, the Adult Choir sings at the Sunday 10:30 AM Mass (with a 9:30 rehearsal). There is no prerequisite for membership in the Adult Choir, other than a desire to praise God with full voice, and to make a reasonable commitment. Current choir members have a wide range of previous musical knowledge, ranging from no previous experience to degrees in music. The growth and development of a fine adult choir is the highest priority for this department. Please contact the Director of Music for more information.
The Cantors
The Director of Music selects the Cantors from the Adult Choirs. Membership in these ensembles is a prerequisite for cantoring. The cantors meet weekly by appointment with the Director of Music and/or Organist to rehearse the music for each Sunday Mass, as well as for other special Liturgies.
Parish Council (back to top)
The purpose of the St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish Pastoral Council is to investigate pastoral matters, to consider them thoroughly and prayerfully, and to propose practical conclusions about them. The council’s task is, first of all, to study those matters brought to its attention and shed light on them. Its second task is to reflect on them thoroughly, to discern their true nature, to evaluate and to ponder them. Its final task is to draw sound conclusions. The council presents these conclusions to the pastor in the form of recommendations. The preferred form of decision making shall be through consensus. This threefold task of the council --investigating, considering, and recommending conclusions -- is called pastoral planning, and is a form of strategic planning. After the pastor has accepted the recommendations of the council, he directs their implementation. Council members may assist him, but strictly speaking, implementation is the responsibility of the pastor, not the council.
The scope of the council is pastoral matters. These may include everything that pertains to the pastor’s ministries of proclaiming God’s word, celebrating the sacraments, caring for the faithful, promoting the mission of the Church to the world, and being a good steward of parish resources. The scope includes all the practical matters of parish life. There is, in short, nothing about which the pastor may not consult the council, apart from faith, orthodoxy, moral principles or laws of the universal Church.
Contact: Mrs. Linda L. Anderson-Mercier
Food Pantry
Parishioners bring food items for the Beverly Bootstraps Food Pantry, who service the needs of the poor in Beverly
Contact: Tony Pietrini
St. Vincent de Paul (back to top)
The Society responds daily to emergency situations involving families and individuals in need of financial or other assistance due to many problems occurring in their lives. Assistance of food, rent, medicines, utility bills, and other necessities of life are available. Clients are visited in their homes on a one to one basis, to address the whole problem. A portion of the clients are referred to other agencies for assistance, such as counseling. We are a United Way organization open to all needy in Beverly.
Meeting Time: Once a month
Contact: Please call the Rectory 978-922-0113
