Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone will be giving a lecture this month at St. Patrick’s Seminary in which he’ll present information on why the Mass is so vital.

“The Mass is the essence and foundation of Western civilization,” he said in a tweet. “I’ll be giving a talk on this for the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music at the Seminary in Menlo Park Sunday, March 19. I hope you will join me.” 

His lecture is titled "The Mass: Essence & Foundation of Western Civilization." It is part of the Public Lecture & Concert Series of the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music. The lecture, which starts at 5 p.m. on March 19, is free and will be followed by a reception. The general public is welcome and encouraged to attend. For those who don't wish to attend in person but are still interested, a livestream will be available, according to EventBrite. 

The Public Lecture & Concert Series of the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music focuses on subjects who have a deep impact on members of the Catholic Church and others, with a particular emphasis on exploring the Church's perspectives on issues related to the worship of God, the spiritual journey, beauty and artistic creations.

Cordileone, who grew up in Blessed Sacrament Parish in San Diego, was born on June 5, 1956. After completing his B.A. in philosophy in 1978, he was accepted to study in Rome, where he continued his studies at the Pontifical North American College. 

He earned an undergraduate degree in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1981 and returned to San Diego the following year to be ordained and begin his first pastoral assignment. From 1982 forward, Cordileone went from pastor to monsignor to bishop, until he was appointed the Archbishop of San Francisco in July 2012. Cordileone also serves on multiple committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

The Catholic Institute of Sacred Music, established in 2022, utilizes the splendor of sacred music and the liturgy to bring people closer to Jesus Christ. The institute provides a rigorous graduate-level program that is accredited and focuses on helping church musicians and clergy to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Church's rich heritage of sacred music and its teachings on this subject.