St. Thomas More
Roman Catholic Church
St. Thomas More Choir
Choir Director
Leda Diedrich
According to an article that appeared in the January/February 2025 EOC (Eastern Oklahoma Catholic) magazine, "It was Ms. Diedrich's love for music that led her to join the choir at St. Thomas More and later the Church," (Yeager, EOC, p.15). That was about 47 years ago (1978). She and her late husband (Richard) directed the choir temporarily together before he passed away. However, it wasn't until the passing of the beloved previous Director Joyce Shank, that Diedrich assumed the director's baton of the English choir during the 9 a.m. Mass. That was in late 2016. In addition to living her life as a consecrated widow, Diedrich devotes her time to prayer, writing music and poetry, enjoying time with her Shih Tzu miniature poodle whose name is "Treasure" as well as helping out at the parish food pantry. She is also an Oblate of St. Benedict affiliated with St. Joseph Monastery in Tulsa.
Meet The Choir
Singing for God is not something you "just" do. It is something you are called to do. It is a ministry of prayer shared through the collective voices of the choir and the parish community. "He who sings, prays twice!" (Saint Augustine)
Music at Mass is not intended to be a performance by the choir. Instead, it must serve as a part of the liturgy, with the purpose of uniting the people in worship.
As St. Augustine says, "Singing is for the one who loves." Music is therefore a sign of God's love for us and of our love for him. In this sense, it is very personal. But unless music sounds, it is not music, and whenever it sounds, it is accessible to others. By its very nature song has both an individual and a communal dimension. Thus, it is no wonder that singing together in church expresses so well the sacramental presence of God to his people.
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- Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship (C) 2007, USCCB.
Mass of Christ the Savior
"I wanted this setting, to be flexible enough to accommodate many worship settings… whether it be a small chapel or a spacious cathedral” —Dan Schutte
Enter more deeply into the mystery of Christ featuring beautiful melodies that will quickly become like old friends, Mass of Christ the Savior invites us to enter more deeply into the mystery of Christ each time we celebrate Mass. The arrangement lends itself to a single singer and guitar or SAB choir, organ, and added instruments.
Containing updated texts for the Lamb of God, the expanded edition of this widely used setting offers a masterful wedding of music and text to inspire your parish. Discover a variety of expanded material “Living Streams,” easily learned by the assembly for the Sprinkling Rite, which builds with intensity each time it’s sung.
In addition to the original Glory to God with refrain, Dan includes a new through-composed option. The elegant Universal Prayer is an accessible way to sing the Prayers of the Faithful each Sunday or for special celebrations during the year.
Eucharistic Prayer II gives presiders a melodic chant setting for the summit of the liturgy. Enjoy musical settings for every Dialogue In Sing to the Lord, the U.S. bishops’ instructions to liturgical musicians state that “Dialogues and Acclamations” are given the highest priority in the sung part of the liturgy.
From the Introductory Dialogue to the Final Blessing and Dismissal, this expanded edition provides settings for each dialogue, creating a more engaging interaction between the priest and congregation to encourage full, conscious, and active participation.
Tracks: Introductory Dialogue | Song for Sprinkling Rite | Penitential Act with Invocations | Lord, Have Mercy | Kyrie, Eleison | Glory to God (with Refrains) | Glory to God (Through Composed) | Dialogue after the First Reading | Lenten Gospel Acclamation | Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia | Dialogue before the Gospel Reading | Dialogue after the Gospel Reading | Universal Prayer (Prayers of the Faithful) | Preface Dialogue | Preface | Eucharistic Prayer II (Part 1)| Mystery of Faith: We Proclaim Your Death | Mystery of Faith: When We Eat This Bread | Mystery of Faith: Save Us, Savior | Eucharistic Prayer (Part 2) | Doxology and Amen | Lamb of God | Final Blessing and Dismissal
Click here to see the music.
To listen to each individual tract, click here. Look to the right on the landing page for Songs In This Collection. Click on each individual green arrow to listen to that particular tract or click on the links below:
Lord, Have Mercy
Glory to God
Alleluia
Holy
Mystery of Faith
Amen
Lamb of God
Want to join our choir?
For more information, please contact Leda Diedrich, Choir Director
E-Mail: ldiedrich51@gmail.com
Tel: 918-629-0288 (Text only, please)