St. Mary Magdalen Church fosters and promotes traditional choral music and hymnody as an integral part of Catholic worship. Its commitment is evidenced by its support of the adult choir, the Voices of St. Mary Magdalen. This forty-voice ensemble includes both trained and untrained singers from many walks of life and various age groups. Our youngest members are still in high school, and one of our veteran members has been in the choir for sixty-three years!
One can see written across the façade of the St. Mary Magdalen pipe organ – SOLI DEO GLORIA — “To God alone, give glory.” (Romans 16:27) This quotation from sacred scripture is the main tenet which governs the selection and careful preparation of music by master composers. Every attempt is made to present choral music that will inspire the congregation.
The choir was mentioned in a Louisiana Life (January/February 2009) editorial about the Omelet Festival, “This event was not the only creative moment in Abbeville that day. At a Mass in the nearby St. Mary Magdalen Church, the local choir was so good that it could have been the house chorus for St. Patrick’s in New York or St. Peter’s in Rome. Even if you don’t like eggs, visit Abbeville for the quaintness of the town and the magnificent church choir.”
This choir rehearses weekly on Wednesday evening from 6:30 until 8:00, and it provides choral music for the Sunday morning 11:00 Mass from September through the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. Accompaniment on the St. Mary Magdalen pipe organ is provided by Mr. Tommy Guidry, who serves the parish as organist, adult choir director, and director of music. Besides its enhancement of 11:00 Sunday liturgy, the choir also sings for annual special events such as the Christmas concert, Midnight Mass, Tenebrae service, and Easter Vigil. Members of the choir enjoy various social events during the year in the form of dinners after rehearsal, pot luck luncheons, a Christmas party, and an annual crawfish boil.
Individuals interested in joining the Voices of St. Mary Magdalen Choir should contact Mr. Guidry at
Musical Selections from the Voices of St. Mary Magdalen
Title: Rutter’s The Lord is My Shepherd (Psalm 23) from Requiem
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Title: Beethoven’s Hallelujah
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Title: Arcadelt’s Ave Maria
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Title: Gounod’s Sanctus
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