Russ, in the pre-Vatican council (1960's) days of the Catholic church, the choir did the singing, everything was in Latin, and the congregation was supposed to not sing. After the Vatican council changes, the Mass was changed to the language of the congregation instead of Latin, the congregation is expected to participate by saying the responses (instead of having altar boys saying them) and singing. The whole point of the changes, including getting rid of the choir in alot of parishes, was to get the people to actively participate in the services. Frankly, I think alot of the good music that was eliminated should not have been, and it can be just as prayerful and participative to listen and contemplate the music as to have to sing it yourself.