I REJOICED!

There is a specific kind of energy we need as the procession begins, and Fr. Bart C. Ezeokafor captures it perfectly in "I Rejoiced!". Drawing its opening directly from Psalm 122, this Entrance hymn does exactly what its title promises—it sets a tone of genuine gladness as the congregation and choir make their way toward the altar. The melody is bright and inviting, giving everyone a reason to lift their heads and sing about the sheer privilege of standing before the Lord.

The verses take us on a wonderful journey from the small to the cosmic. We start with the intimate, comforting image of sparrows and swallows building their nests beside the altar, before expanding outward to the sun, moon, and shining stars proclaiming God's glory. By the third verse, the choir is joining the twenty-four elders and hosts of angels in heavenly worship. It is a brilliant way to remind the people in the pews that our Sunday Mass is part of a much larger, eternal chorus.

One of the most striking moments in the arrangement comes near the end with the second refrain. While the main choir drops down to sing a soft, continuous loop of "O yes! I rejoiced!", a soprano or tenor cantor soars over the top with a personal declaration: "Lord I'm so glad to be here." It brings a deeply human, individual voice to the grand procession, leaving us fully prepared and joyful for the liturgy ahead.