Glory to God in the Highest

When we need a Gloria that instantly lifts the spirit of the congregation, this setting from the Mass of St Joseph Marello is a wonderful choice. Composed collaboratively by Itua Inetiabor, Clinton Ehimare, and Dominic Onyenweuwa, the piece is marked to be sung "With Joy," and you can feel that instruction right from the opening measures. The refrain sets up a lively, rhythmic call-and-response feel, with the sopranos and altos soaring on the main melody while the tenors and basses provide a driving, syncopated foundation underneath. It brings a real sense of celebration to the introductory rites of the Mass.

For the verses, the composers opted for a stacked, strophic layout. Instead of through-composing the lengthy text of the Gloria, all five stanzas are sung to the same melodic structure. This makes the piece incredibly practical for choir rehearsals, as the singers only need to learn one verse melody to master the entire hymn. It also helps the congregation catch on quickly, allowing them to join in the responses or simply meditate on the familiar words of praise, adoration, and supplication.

We often bring this out on festive Sundays and solemnities when the liturgy calls for an extra burst of energy. The transition from the final verse—acknowledging Christ with the Holy Spirit in the glory of the Father—right back into that vibrant, rhythmic chorus leaves everyone in the pews ready to enter fully into the Liturgy of the Word.