Welcome to the Handbell Ministry!

Check the calendar for the ministry’s rehearsal & liturgy schedule -  

 The entire school year handbells calendar (through June 2010) is here.

Registration Form is HERE  or here

We offer several ensembles at various levels of ability. 

Check the calendar for our ‘plan A’ rehearsal & liturgy schedule (coming soon):

updates occur as liturgical needs & group abilities evolve,

and are communicated by member email and rehearsal announcement.

Please note that the color of each ensemble name below matches its calendar assignments.

(Please note: the color of each ensemble name below matches its calendar assignments.)

Jubellation: SPS third grade ringers learn to apply the rudiments of music (rhythm, pitch, duration, accidentals, time signatures, dynamics, etc) on handbells, handchimes and percussion instruments in preparation for assigned all-school masses and parish weekend liturgies. Rehearsals are Mondays, 2:30 – 4:00 PM.

Embellish includes new and returning SPS fourth through eighth graders at the advanced-beginner level. Meets Tuesdays, 2:30 – 4:00 PM in preparation for most all-school masses and assigned parish weekend liturgies, as well as an area-wide ringing festival for young ringers (held the first weekend in February in NE Illinois). Includes percussion as above.

  Shepherd’s Bells is open to all parishioners: adults and students (youth members must be fourth grade or older). This group often includes a few family member teams! Rehearsals are on Mondays, 5:00 - 6:30 PM. Our liturgical preparation is for parish liturgies only. We participate in one of the area-wide ringing festivals in NE Illinois or SE Wisconsin, and consider ‘road trips’ to watch other handbell ensembles or soloists perform. Includes increased responsibilities for performance in Latin and African percussion rhythms.

Joyful Ring is open by audition only to parish ringers who have demonstrated the ability to accurately ring more advanced repertoire and who can commit to the awesome hard work and fun of preparing more frequent ringing assignments. This ensemble prepares for occasional weekend liturgies, Holy Week liturgies, Midnight Mass at Christmas, and an area-wide ringing festival as above. Ensemble members who attend SPS also participate in all-school masses. Commitment includes leadership experiences in helping teach less-experienced ringers as time allows. Ringing assignments are often doubled in order to achieve a fuller sound as well as to pair ringers for learning enhancement and fun. We rehearse on Wednesdays, 5:00 – 6:30 or 7:00 PM; our percussion work includes more advanced rhythms & instruments.

To register for the Fall ’09 – Spring ’10 year, click here!

(please register online or via snail mail by 7/31/08)

 Questions or want to attend a no-obligation rehearsal?

Call Mrs. Diane Oster, St. Patrick Handbell Director at 847.501-0523

 or email at oster.diane@sbcglobal.net

  *Please note: Special handbell gloves ($5) must be purchased by all ringers using handbells. All ensemble members are expected to show respect toward each other, for the instruments, and for the needs of the rehearsal and liturgies at all times, as well as to attend all regularly-scheduled ensemble commitments. Members unable to attend a scheduled rehearsal or liturgy assigned to his/her group should notify Mrs. Oster as soon as possible.