OCP’s hymnals, missals and other resources have been trusted by parishes in the U.S. for decades. Each element that makes its way into an OCP pew book has gone through our extensive vetting process – is thoroughly researched, double-checked and approved both internally and externally by recognized liturgical and musical experts.
Approved by the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Divine Worship
Every OCP resource that serves as a worship aid for the liturgy has been approved for publication by the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Divine Worship (BCDW). Each year, OCP also sends proofs of its missals to the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) and the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) so that the lectionary readings, responsorial psalms and excerpts from the Roman Missal can be reviewed and approved by the proper Church authorities.
Exacting song selection process
The experts that decide which songs are included in OCP’s missals and hymnals include men and women with decades of experience in music ministry, advanced degrees in liturgy, theology and music theory, Catholic priests and more. Meetings of OCP’s selection committee begin with prayer and are centered on how to best serve the Church through the music we publish. The recommendations of U.S. bishops, respected music directors, Catholic composers, OCP customers and even other publishers are all carefully considered when selecting new music to include in our resources. Any song approved by the selection committee is then sent to third-party experts for further theological review, making sure that any song in an OCP resource is appropriate for Catholic worship with themes in line with Church teaching.
Resources with a Catholic heart
Perhaps the best reason to trust OCP resources is that they are people-of-God-focused from start to finish. OCP is a not-for-profit company committed to draw people closer to God by supporting the Church in everything we do. That sensibility informs company-wide initiatives ranging from OCP Parish Grants, which provides direct financial assistance to Roman Catholic parishes, to the Center for Learning division, which offers Catholic ministers the support and essential formation they need to minister effectively. Our worship resources are built on the music that Catholic parishes want to support their liturgies. Our pew books reflect the feedback we receive from customers through reported use of songs, our Annual Music Survey, and direct communications which we always take into account.
If you are considering a new pew book for your parish, you can have confidence that OCP will provide you with a high-quality resource you can trust. Discover the OCP missal or hymnal that is suited to the needs of your community, and don’t forget to have your voice heard in our Annual Music Survey!