Robert Skeris
Encyclopedia
Dr. Robert A. Skeris has been a priest
of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee since 1961. Dr. Skeris earned a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Liturgical Studies from the University of Notre Dame
and studied at the Universities of Cologne and Bonn in Germany. He received his Doctor of Theology
in 1975 from the University of Bonn
. Very active in the Church Music Association since the 1960s, Dr. Skeris was influential in founding (and was intimately involved with) the Consociatio Internationalis Musicae Sacrae.
As Associate Professor of Theology at the University of Dallas
, he taught liturgy, sacramental theology, ecclesiology and apologetics, as well as church music at the adjacent Holy Trinity Seminary.
After having pursued further research in hymnology
at the University of Southern California
and the Claremont Colleges, Fr. Skeris was appointed Director of the Hymnology Section at the International Institute for Hymnological and Ethno-Musicological Studies in Maria Laach
in 1978, where he worked for the West German Bishops' Conference and the Academy of Science in Mainz as researcher in charge of the Roman Catholic contribution to the joint ecumenical project Das Deutsche Kirchenlied, a critical edition of congregational hymns printed in the German language area between 1481 and 1800.
Having served from 1986 through 1989 as Professor and Prefetto della Casa at the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music
in Rome, where he also had been named Consultor to the Vatican's
Office of Pontifical Ceremonies, Father Skeris joined the faculty of Christendom College in 1990. Through the decade of his service at Christendom as Associate Chaplain, Chairman of the Theology Department, director of the Christendom College
Choir and Schola Gregoriana, and organizer of the annual summer Church Music Colloquium, Fr. Skeris made Christendom College not only a center of intellectual renewal, but a genuine center for the restoration of the sacred. Fr. Skeris is Professor Emeritus of Sacred Theology since 2000.
His lectures at professional and scholarly conferences, and his publications are many and of distinguished value, a few of which include:
Dr. Skeris is a Knight Commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, and is the President Emeritus of CMAA (the Church Music Association of America
).
Currently, Dr. Skeris is Director of the Centre for Ward Method Studies at the B.T. Rome School of Music at The Catholic University of America
.
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee since 1961. Dr. Skeris earned a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Liturgical Studies from the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
and studied at the Universities of Cologne and Bonn in Germany. He received his Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology is a terminal academic degree in theology. It is a research degree that is considered by the U.S. National Science Foundation to be the equivalent of a Doctor of Philosophy....
in 1975 from the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
. Very active in the Church Music Association since the 1960s, Dr. Skeris was influential in founding (and was intimately involved with) the Consociatio Internationalis Musicae Sacrae.
As Associate Professor of Theology at the University of Dallas
University of Dallas
The University of Dallas is a private, independent Catholic regional university located in Irving, Texas, established in 1956, which is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. According to U.S...
, he taught liturgy, sacramental theology, ecclesiology and apologetics, as well as church music at the adjacent Holy Trinity Seminary.
After having pursued further research in hymnology
Hymnology
Hymnology is the scholarly study of religious song, or the hymn, in its many aspects, with particular focus on choral and congregational song. It may be more or less clearly distinguished from hymnody, the creation and practice of such song...
at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
and the Claremont Colleges, Fr. Skeris was appointed Director of the Hymnology Section at the International Institute for Hymnological and Ethno-Musicological Studies in Maria Laach
Maria Laach Abbey
Maria Laach Abbey is a Benedictine abbey situated on the southwestern shore of the Laacher See , near Andernach, in the Eifel region of the Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany. It is a member of the Beuronese Congregation within the Benedictine Confederation...
in 1978, where he worked for the West German Bishops' Conference and the Academy of Science in Mainz as researcher in charge of the Roman Catholic contribution to the joint ecumenical project Das Deutsche Kirchenlied, a critical edition of congregational hymns printed in the German language area between 1481 and 1800.
Having served from 1986 through 1989 as Professor and Prefetto della Casa at the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music
Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music
The Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music or Pontificio Instituto de Música Sagrada is an institution of higher education of the Roman Catholic Church specifically dedicated to the study of sacred music. It is based in Rome, Italy.-History:...
in Rome, where he also had been named Consultor to the Vatican's
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
Office of Pontifical Ceremonies, Father Skeris joined the faculty of Christendom College in 1990. Through the decade of his service at Christendom as Associate Chaplain, Chairman of the Theology Department, director of the Christendom College
Christendom College
Christendom College is a small Catholic liberal arts college in Front Royal, Virginia, United States, which is located in the Shenandoah Valley.-Educational Mission:...
Choir and Schola Gregoriana, and organizer of the annual summer Church Music Colloquium, Fr. Skeris made Christendom College not only a center of intellectual renewal, but a genuine center for the restoration of the sacred. Fr. Skeris is Professor Emeritus of Sacred Theology since 2000.
His lectures at professional and scholarly conferences, and his publications are many and of distinguished value, a few of which include:
- co-author of Das deutsche Kirchenlied: Kritische Gesamtausgabe der Melodien (Kassel, Basel, London, New York: Baerenreiter, 1993)
- author of 13 articles on liturgy, sacred music, etc. in the Encyclopedia of Catholic Doctrine, ed. Russell Shaw (OSV, 1997)
- numerous articles in such publications as Crisis, Sacred Music, Pastoral Music, Proceedings of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars
- appearances on EWTN; conducted sacred music workshops in the Diocese of Portland, MainePortland, MainePortland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, and elsewhere.
Dr. Skeris is a Knight Commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, and is the President Emeritus of CMAA (the Church Music Association of America
Church Music Association of America
The Church Music Association of America is a non-profit 501 association of Catholic church musicians and others who have a special interest in music and liturgy, active in advancing Gregorian chant, Renaissance polyphony, and other forms of sacred music for liturgical use...
).
Currently, Dr. Skeris is Director of the Centre for Ward Method Studies at the B.T. Rome School of Music at The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
.
External links
- Latin Tridentine Community, Archdiocese of Milwaukee.