Hymn of the Week: ‘Cry Out With Joy’

This is a staple at my parish— and a suitably joyous entrance song for this week’s liturgies, which mark our parish feast.

It was written by the Rev. James Chepponis, a priest of the Diocese of Pittsburgh:

Since 1996, Fr. Jim has served the Pittsburgh Diocese as Director of the Office for Music Ministry, and his work includes providing music for all Diocesan liturgies, directing the Diocesan Choir and Schola Cantorum, and serving as music resource person for parishes throughout the Pittsburgh Diocese. In July of 2003, Fr. Chepponis was also appointed as pastor of St. John Capistran Parish in the Upper St. Clair suburb of Pittsburgh.

He has led workshops on pastoral music throughout the country, and was a participant in the creation of the document The Milwaukee Symposia for Church Composers: A Ten-Year Report . His published articles on liturgy and music have appeared in Pastoral Music, The Hymn, and GIA Quarterly. Fr. Jim has over 100 published compositions.

Check out this spirited rendition below, from the Visitation Church Choir in Kansas City, Missouri.