CONSTITUTION

OF
ST. CECILIA CHOIR

ST BENEDICT CATHOLIC CHURCH,

ARMY CHAMPLAINCY,
AKURE ONDO DIOCESE,
ONDO STATE.

Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr

 SECTION 1
ARTICLE 1
We the members of St. Cecilia choir in St. Benedict Military
Chaplaincy, in the 32 Artillery Brigade Owena Cantonment Akure,
Ondo State catholic church, hereby make and adopt this constitution to
be our guiding laws declaring that:
1. This choir shall be called St Cecilia Choir
2. Our slogan and mode of greeting shall be “Sing praises, to the
lord”
3. This choir is part of the chaplaincy of St. Benedict’s therefore
under the direct influence of the chaplaincy administration.
4. The provisions of this constitution shall guide the choir till any
time this constitution is amended.
5. This constitution shall not be amended except with single majority
vote of the choristers and the chaplains consent.

ARTICLE 2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE CHOIR

1. To promote and improve the solemnity of liturgical celebrations
especially the Holy Mass.
2. To uplift the spirit of the faithful during liturgical celebrations
through singing especially the Holy Mass.
3. To tap and develop the God given talents of the youths and
members through singing.
4. To promote spiritual growth of her members.
5. To promote unity and brotherly love among members.
ARTICLE 3 RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHOIR
1. The primary responsibility of the choir is singing the 9am Mass on
Sundays.
2. The choir as part of the chaplaincy is bound by the activities of the
chaplaincy and as such should participate in whatever is a
chaplaincy activity, such as Harvest and Bazaar, retreats and clean-
up activities in the church.
3. The choir also has the responsibility of seeing to the welfare of her
members even outside the choir’s activities. As such, the choir
should care for the social well-being of her members and call to
order any of her members whose moral/social life could tarnish the
image of the association.
4. The choir is also a praying group and should pray for her members.

ARTICLE 4 CONDITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP

Anybody who wishes to be admitted to the St, Cecilia’s choir shall
posses the following qualities:
1. Must be a baptized catholic.
2. Must be regular in attendance to the Eucharistic Sacrament.
3. Must be readily available to the choir when needed.
4. Must pledge his/her willing and unalloyed obedience to the
catholic church and her constituted authority.
5. Must be ready to see the choir as an avenue through which one can
attain one’s salvation and that of others and must therefore be
ready to abide by all the rules and regulations guiding the choir.
ARTICLE 5 MEMBERSHIP
1. The individual should agree to the code of conduct of the choir.
2. Anyone who wishes to join the choir declares
3. his/her interest and is expected to do the following:
 a. Register with the secretary by completing the registration form.
b. Undergo a three (3) months’ probation, during which the person is
auditioned (during and after the probation) after which the person
is confirmed if judged worthy by the Music Director/Choirmaster.
c. During the probation the chorister attends all other activities of the
choir except singing during Holy Mass in the choir stand on
Sundays.
d. Only those who are found committed to the choir shall be enrolled
as members, i.e. those who can either sing well or play any of the
musical instruments well.
e. Pay registration fee of 100 naira, due card of 300 naira and
monthly due of 100 naira making it a total of 500 naira an also
should buy one transparent file for the songs bought.
f. Must make his/her file by buying songs during rehearsals.

SECTION 2
ARTICLE 1: ACTIVITIES OF THE CHOIR
1. The choir is one of the most vibrant and a liturgical organization in
the catholic church. Being a technical group and an activity group,
the choir cannot do well without preparations for such activities.
This spells out the need to rehearse in preparation for such activites
as stipulated in section 1 article 3.
2. The choir shall have rehearsal three (3) times a week and these
rehearsals shall be on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The
choirmaster would organise extra rehearsals when he or she deems
it necessary.
3. The time for rehearsal shall be 4pm to 6pm on Tuesdays and
Thursdays and 3pm to 6pm on Saturdays.
4. The choir shall have her prayer meetings/fellowship every last
Saturday of the month and attendance is mandatory for her
members.
 SECTION 3
ARTICLE 1: THE CHOIR AND THE CHAPLAIN
1. The chaplain being at the head of the chaplaincy administration has
direct influence on the choir.
2. The chaplain shall be periodically briefed according to
arrangements with the leadership of the choir, of the development
and the general progress of the choir. Issues beyond the
competence of the choirmaster and the executive body shall be
referred to the chaplain.
3. The chaplain shall be informed in details and on time of any
activity of the choir and should give his approval before any such
activity takes place.
4. In the instance of conditions given by the chaplain, which does not
favour the members of the choir, the leadership of the choir, shall
without prejudice to section 3 article 1 appeal to the chaplain for
reconsideration of such conditions.
5. He must be number one signatory to the choirs account, before any
money is withdrawn.
SECTION 4
ARTICLE 1: DISCIPLINE/DECORUM.
Discipline is our watchword and on this note:
1. Punctuality to choir’s activities cannot be compromised.
2. A grace of fifteen (15) minutes into the rehearsal shall be given for
the benefit of doubt after which no chorister is allowed in, except
with cogent reasons which he/she might inform the choirmaster
and the provost before time.
3. Silence is golden. Noise making during rehearsals is strictly
prohibited. Side talks and comments are not allowed during
rehearsals and Masses. Anyone who has any observation or
 comment raises his or her hand and is permitted to talk when
adequate.
4. Loitering during rehearsals is prohibited and as such attracts
disciplinary actions.
5. Choristers do not walk in or out when opening prayers are on. The
prayers must be over before anybody comes in or goes out.
6. Any chorister who for any good reason will not attend the
rehearsal should make such request in writing or by other means to
the provost who notifies the choirmaster before the commencement
of the programme or rehearsals. If the chorister should leave before
the end of the rehearsal, he/she should notify the provost who
notifies the choirmaster in like manner. Meanwhile, the provost
can handle some cases without involving the choirmaster (or
disrupting the rehearsal) except the choirmaster comes into the
matter. Any notification letter is ultimately given to the secretary
for documentation. This is applicable to other choir activities.
7. Choristers shall be seated in the church at least fifteen (15) minutes
before the commencement of the Holy Mass which the choir will
cover the singing.
8. Smoking is not allowed. Perceived smell of cigarettes merits a
chorister suspension or expulsion if he/she had been previously
warned.
9. Chewing of gum or any form of eating is not allowed while
rehearsals are on, or during Mass.
10. Dressing should be taken seriously. Immodest dressing is not
allowed into the choir. As such, no trousers for ladies, no spaghetti
strap shirts, no sleeveless shirts and no miniskirts. Females must
cover their hair during rehearsals and Holy Mass. For males, no
shorts, cap, body hugs, sleeveless shirts, sagging and showing of
underwear are allowed.
11. Fighting is a taboo. Any case of physical assault on any
member or abuse of any executive member in the exercise of their
 duties is a grave offence punishable by expulsion especially where
the offender had been previously warned.
12. Anyone who disobeys the choirmaster’s or the provost’s
orders or their delegates in the exercise of their duties is at risk of
being suspended for a period not less than two (2) weeks with an
apology letter.
13. Any problem that crops up within the choir, between two or
more choristers during the choirs' activities shall be settled in the
choir and must not be taken outside the choir arena. Whoever
molests another outside the choir arena on account of what
happened during the choirs' activities must be suspended
indefinitely and the Chaplain must be notified of this. He/she may
be completely expelled if the Chaplain so deems it.
14. The executives are not allowed to insult one another whether
in the exercise of their duties or not. Orders must be verbally given
and compliance to reasonable order is mandatory.
15. Punishment for minor offences committed during choir
activities is restricted to standing the offender up for some time, or
asking the offender out by whoever is in charge of a particular
session of the choirs' activity. Disobedience to such orders may
attract heavier penalties like suspension or expulsion.
16. Any chorister appealed to by the curator(s) to help send in or
bring out the choirs' instruments should comply as it is in the
Interest of the entire choir that such is being done. Disobedience to
such orders attracts a penalty like suspension or expulsions.
17. No chorister Is exempted from choir’s activities. No one
should absent himself/herself from condolence visits, weddings
etc. without cogent written reasons.
18. Should there be need to appoint or constitute a committee for
a special purpose, or should demand be made of chorister to serve
the association in one form or the other, any chorister who declines
such offers does not exhibit solidarity and love for the association.
 Reasons for such declines must be given to whoever calls for such
services. Plausible excuses are to be accented and if no one accepts
to offer such services, the Chairman or whoever calls for such
services mandates It upon some choristers to perform such duties.
19. Sleeping or other distracting postures that may be
misunderstood are not allowed. Sick choristers and indisposed
choristers should notify the choir appropriately and stay away from
activities which they cannot participate in.
20. The general meetings of the choir should be held once every
month. More meetings could be convened in cases of emergency.

SECTION 6
ARTICLE 1: BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP.
1.