Howard Hughes

Howard Hughes, S.M. (born 1930), is a Marianist religious brother, liturgical composer, organist, choir director, and pastoral musician. His interest in music was developed within the Society of Mary, where Brother Robert Holzmer was an important mentor. Hughes taught French and directed high school choral groups, and he also sang in symphonic choruses; he later described these conducting and choral experiences as formative for his work as a composer.

Hughes became active in the renewal of English-language Roman Catholic liturgical music surrounding the Second Vatican Council. Hymnary identifies his first published work as Mass for Peace in the 1964 Peoples Mass Book and documents music published by organizations including World Library Publications, GIA, ICEL, OCP, and other church-music bodies. His settings are characteristically designed for liturgical use and congregational participation rather than concert performance alone.

His 1977 setting for the baptismal acclamation “You Have Put On Christ” is commonly known as BAPTIZED IN CHRIST. Hymnal sources identify it as an irregular-meter tune, frequently printed in F major, and note that it may be sung as a canon. The music was published for the Rite of Baptism for Children and related rites and remains separately copyrighted from the 1969 ICEL text.

Hughes has also served as an organist and music director at the Marianist Center in Cupertino, California. The National Association of Pastoral Musicians lists him as its 2013 Pastoral Musician of the Year, recognizing his long contribution to sung Catholic liturgy.