Sacred music filled St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta, as church musicians from across Australia gathered for the Guild of Church Musicians’ annual festival service. Source: Catholic Outlook.
The cathedral’s music director Bernard Kirkpatrick, was recognised during the November 9 service, receiving the prestigious Honorary Fellowship of the Guild for his decades of service to sacred music.
The afternoon celebration began with Solemn Vespers, presided over by Parramatta Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, and officiated by vicar general Fr Peter Williams.
Traditional choral and organ music were on full display, led by assistant music director Eric Grella and the St Patrick’s Cathedral choir.
Associate Professor Neil McEwan, academic dean of the guild, read the citation, highlighting Mr Kirkpatrick’s lifetime of service.
Mr Kirkpatrick has been director of music at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Parramatta since 2006. His passion for sacred liturgical music began as a child in Tasmania, playing in his local parish church, and further developed as a music student and organ scholar at the University of Sydney, studying with Sydney City Organist Robert Ampt.
Mr Kirkpatrick brings more than 40 years of experience in parish churches and cathedrals, contributing his expertise in music ministry over many years, including more than 10 years as assistant organist at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney.
In parishes, seminaries, schools, and universities, he has fulfilled roles as music director, choir trainer, organist, composer, and cantor. In addition to his role at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Mr Kirkpatrick also serves as music director at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd in the Archdiocese of Sydney and at Australia’s only Catholic liberal arts college, Campion College Australia.
He is also music consultant to the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Commission for Liturgy and served as secretary to the National Liturgical Music Board for 10 years, during which he oversaw the collation and publication of the Catholic Worship Book II (2016).
In 2021, Pope Francis awarded Mr Kirkpatrick a Papal Knighthood in the Order of Saint Sylvester, acknowledging his contribution to liturgical music in the Catholic Church.
The festival also recognised other church musicians for their generous use of skills in praise of God, and welcomed new guild members.
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Cathedral Music Director recognised nationally in Parramatta (Catholic Outlook)
