Our mariachi ensemble consists of trumpets, violins, harp, guitarron, and guitars. Currently, the director, Mr. Francisco Morales, is composing new liturgical music in the mariachi style. This new music is setting the standard for this style of music. It is breaking new ground by focusing on the requirements of the liturgy. In doing so, new impetus is being given to implement the Church's vision for liturgical music as expressed in Musicam Sacram and the General Instruction to the Roman Missal.

Mr. Morales is setting texts in Spanish for the introit, offertory and communion that are taken from the Simple Gradual. These liturgical texts are antiphons and psalms that are seasonal and therefore used throughout the different liturgical seasons. Through repetition the assembly is able to learn the antiphons and join the mariachis in the singing during the processional moments of the liturgy.

Francisco is also setting some of the ordinary texts, in particular "form C" of the penitential rite and the Easter antiphon for the sprinkling rite. His "form C" sets the invocations in the mariachi style combined with the Gregorian chant Kyrie Eleison with organ accompaniment alone.

With five singers on a part, this choir is an ideal size to offer music of the "a capella" tradition. The Schola sings repertoire from Gregorian chant and Palestrina to Durufle and other contemporary composers such as Richard Proulx and Lynn Trapp. With this ensemble the basilica offers the more traditional repertoire of liturgical music.

With these two ensembles, the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle offers God praise and sanctifies those who join them in sung prayer. In this way the Basilica strives to fulfill Jesus' description of those instructed in the kingdom of heaven. They are "like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old." (Mt 13:52)