Home/Stay Informed/All Diocesan Articles

All Diocesan Articles

Diocese's Music Director is Getting in Tune with New Role

Posted on November 22, 2019 in: News

Diocese's Music Director is Getting in Tune with New Role

By Ryan Blessing

When he’s not playing organ and directing the choir at Mass, Michael Lianos is busy preparing for several upcoming performances at the Cathedral of St. Patrick.

The new Director of Music and Organist at the cathedral, Lianos started on August 1 and has been settling into his new role for the past three months. “There’s always a learning curve with a community this large,” he said. “I’ve worked with communities as large, and these are wonderful people.”

Lianos is readying for the November 17 Candlelight Concert and Compline. He’s enlivened the program a bit, he said. “It was more of a concert and somewhat of a compline in the past,” he said. He added things such as a penitential rite and certain Catholic antiphons, or short chants, he said.

It’s the first large performance event here in the Diocese of Norwich for Lianos, 34, who took over from former music director Doug Green, who retired in August. In his music room in the basement of the cathedral are tables holding handbells of various sizes, along with sheet music. “That’s me getting our children’s choir ready,” he said. He had four children when he arrived and has grown that to 14, all from St. Patrick School. “They ring and sing every other weekend,” he said. “And also at the school Masses. It’s a pretty vigorous schedule and they’re very smart children.”

He also merged handbell rehearsals held Tuesday through Thursday into one Wednesday rehearsal for St. Patrick School children. He plans to open up a Tuesday evening rehearsal slot for children from other schools. Lianos said that one of his biggest challenges is navigating the multi-level function of the cathedral.

“You have the local parish, but you also have the diocese,” he said. “That’s the biggest challenge, I think, playing both roles.” Working in the cathedral for a few months, Lianos said he’s struck by the organ. “The organ is particularly lovely, and the room,” he said. “Many organ builders will say the most important stop in the organ is the room … the room sort of adds to the beauty of the instrument.”

Lianos previously served at St. Bede Catholic Church in Williamsburg, Virginia. He grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire and studied organ performance, and took vocal training as well at Oberlin Conservatory. Lianos said he’s passionate about liturgy, and that it’s very important. He compared it to the Road to Emmaus, the Bible story where the resurrected Jesus is walking with two disciples who don’t recognize Him until He reveals Himself to them during the breaking of bread together.

“That’s very much how I see Mass play out,” he said. “We have the procession in and the Liturgy of the Word, both journeys, and then consecration, where Jesus reveals Himself to us in the breaking of bread. But it doesn’t stop there, we go out into the world to share with others. So, I try to build music around liturgical practice.” Lianos also praised the leadership in the diocese as excellent to work with and tipped his hat to his longtime predecessor. “This music program is in great shape,” he said. “Doug did a fantastic job training the musicians, and the people here are just wonderful.”


Most Viewed Articles of the Last 30 Days

Archbishop Coyne Reflects on the Baptism of the Lord: "Don't Ever Apologize for Being Catholic"
This past Sunday, Archbishop Christopher Coyne, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Norwich, delivered an inspiring homily at the Baptism of the Lord Mass. In his message, he urged the faithful to embrace their identity as Catholics with confidence and joy, reminding them, "Don't ever apologize for being Catholic." Archbishop Coyne drew meaningful connections between the baptism of Jesus and our own call to live as beloved children of God. He reflected on the feast's profound significance, encouraging the community to proclaim the Good News boldly...

Read More

Big Laughs for a Big Cause: 2nd Annual Comedy Night to Benefit Amazing Grace Food Pantry
Four Acclaimed National Comedians to Perform at 2nd Annual “Comedy, Charity, Community” Night at Wesleyan University, Friday, January 24th, to benefit Amazing Grace Food Pantry St. Vincent de Paul Middletown (SVDM) in partnership with Wesleyan University’s Robert F. Schumann Institute of the Bailey College of the Environment is proud to present a night of “Comedy, Charity, Community” on Friday, January 24, 2025, from 6 to 9 p.m. at. Wesleyan University’s Fayerweather Building, Beckham Hall, 55 Wyllys Ave, Middletown. Tickets ($69) a...

Read More

80 Years After Auschwitz’s Liberation: ‘I Ask You Only to Remember’
Jan. 27 marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Each year, the camp survivors are fewer in number, and as their testimony and witness remain, the importance of Auschwitz endures. In 2024, more than 1.8 million visitors passed through its gates. What is it that brings people here? An obscene charnel of mass murder with all its evil, its inhumanity, its brutality: On the surface, it is a site devoid of hope. But among the ruins and the selection lines, beneath the Arbeit Macht Frei sign, in the preserved block houses, and amid the devastating ex...

Read More

A Dedicated Servant of Faith Takes on a New Role

Posted on January 14, 2025 in: News

293

A Dedicated Servant of Faith Takes on a New Role
The Office of Faith Events is thrilled to welcome Alvania Tejada as its new administrative assistant. Alvania is a familiar face in the Diocese of Norwich, bringing years of devotion, experience and heartfelt service. Originally from the Dominican Republic and a proud mother of two adult children, Alvania has long been a part of our diocesan community, holding numerous ministry roles that have impacted countless lives. Her journey brought her to the U.S. in 1998 and then to Connecticut in 2002, where her story of Faith and service truly began to flourish. For nearly...

Read More

The Transformative Power of Catholic Education
I recently attended a reunion of my high school class. Most of the men I hadn’t seen in over a half-century. We reminisced about our high school experience, the great times, the great and not-so-great teachers, and the good and bad of attending an all-boys high school. But what we all remembered most was the wonderful academic environment created by the Vincentians who administered the school. We attended St. John's Preparatory School, which at the time was located on Lewis Avenue in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York. “The Prep” w...

Read More

Be Not Afraid, Because God is Always Near, Pope Says
Pope Francis reflected on Mary's trust in God's plan and presence, prayed for Los Angeles wildfire victims and prayed for peace in Gaza during his general audience at the Vatican.   VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- God tells Christians not to be afraid because he is always close, accompanying the faithful throughout their lives and through all their challenges, Pope Francis said. "God says 'Do not be afraid' to Abraham, Isaac" and many others in the Bible, but "he says it to us, too. 'Be not afraid,' keep going," because God &q...

Read More

Annual Catholic Appeal

ACA DONATE

English

Español

 

Latest Articles
Witnessing Hope — My First March For Life
A Month of Compassion: Film Events to Support St. Vincent de Paul Place
Celebrating 150 Years: St. Joseph School Honors Faith, Family, and Tradition
Religious Icons: Hope & Faith Video Series
St. John Bosco, the Patron Saint of Young People - January 31st
Morality of AI Depends on Human Choices, Vatican Says in New Document
Candles, Prayers, and Healing: The Blessing of Throats Explained
Anchored in Faith - Remembering “The Four Chaplains”
Recently Added Galleries
Click to view album: 40 Days for Life 2024
Click to view album: Blessing of the Fleet 2024
Click to view album: Mass of Ordination for Fr. Eric Carl Hosmer, Fr. Julian Felipe Cuervo-Lozada and Fr. Alexander James Pandolfe
Click to view album: Norwich Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (NDCCW) 46th Annual Layette
Signup for Weekly Newsletter

     

    Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich
    201 Broadway
    Norwich, CT 06360-4328
    Phone: 860-887-9294