Metro Detroit — Christmas preparations are hard enough with all of the cookies to bake, cards to send, decorations to put out and gifts to purchase.

But for parish music directors, the holiday busyness often starts months in advance as they plan out and lead rehearsals for music at Christmas Mass.

“We try to plan to touch the hearts of everyone no matter what their particular musical tastes,” said Amy Righi, director of music and liturgy at St. Isidore Parish in Macomb, who works with fellow staff choir directors Holly Shanefelt and Lia Difonzo.

St. Isidore is comprised of 3,900 families and offers as diverse musical opportunities as its “Teen Music Ministers for Christ Ensemble;” “Adult Ensemble;” “Joyful Noise Children’s Choir;” and “Generations Ensemble.”

Other choirs include a volunteer bell choir, a cantor program, a volunteer contemporary ensemble and the “Resurrection Choir” for funerals.

St. Isidore’s choirs participate in several of its Christmas liturgies, including two Christmas Eve liturgies, Midnight Mass — beginning with an 11:15 p.m. musical prelude — and two Christmas morning Masses.

The choirs begin practicing the Christmas musical selections a few weeks prior, varying according to each group’s capabilities and familiarity with the Christmas music selections.

“We do an eclectic mix ranging from chant and traditional hymns to praise and worship and contemporary gospel,” said Righi. “We try to incorporate all styles to represent the various tastes of the community.”

Musical instruments used at various St. Isidore liturgies include piano, organ, guitars, bass guitar, violins, flutes, trumpets, French horns, various hand percussion, drums, congas and wind chimes.

Righi said regardless of musical style, “the heart or core of each weekend or particular celebration remains the same: the responsorial psalm, eucharistic acclamations and the music at communion — which symbolizes the unity of the communal action in unity of voices.”

Righi explained that the Christmas music at St. Isidore supports the full, conscious and active participation of the assemblies “with music that is planned based on the Scripture readings and prepared to enhance the worship experience of our community.”

Mother of Divine Mercy Parish in Detroit has a number of Christmas Masses among its three church sites — St. Josaphat, St. Joseph and Sweetest Heart of Mary.

Ronald Weiler, recently arrived music director at Sweetest Heart of Mary and St. Josaphat churches, said the Midnight Mass at Sweetest Heart is particularly special to the Polish community.

Midnight Mass was the first liturgy ever celebrated at Sweetest Heart, he said, and traditionally it incorporated a great deal of traditional Polish music through the years.

Weiler, who did not speak Polish prior to his arrival as music director — though he is currently learning it — said he has been learning traditional Polish hymns with help from parishioners.

“Fortunately, people here have been able to give me lists of music that have been traditional, and pointing me to specific songs that would be sorely missed if not included,” he said. “This music could be best described as Polish folk music, with a very distinct style — which I have come to recognize and appreciate.”

Weiler said plans for the 2014 Midnight Mass include traditional, universally Catholic hymns and chants, as well as Polish Christmas hymns.

The choir began practicing for the liturgy in late November, though Weiler typically gives some Christmas music to choir members months in advance: “We also build up a repertoire of Christmas music year to year, and so we do not need to learn all-new music each year.”

Weiler said he enjoys traditional liturgical music, but also incorporates more contemporary music “in a traditional style.”

However, since arriving at Sweetest Heart, “I have been compelled by the beauty and acoustics of this incredible church, to swing the pendulum even more toward the traditional, even chanting some of the propers during Mass in recent months,” he said.

“Hopefully, if I’ve done my job right, both those who are Polish and those who are not will find our Midnight Mass to be a reverent, beautiful and holy experience where they feel the presence of Jesus and can participate in the worship of him.”