Sister Cornelia was my piano teacher and later taught my sister and I to play the organ for Masses. We played the Masses on either side of the High Mass at 10:00am. In high school and in college I still played for Mass, but now on my guitar (which I still have).
Today, I cantor at Mass, play guitar at Mass and sing in two choirs. I share my time, talent and tresaure with our cluster parishes by participating in our worship at Mass with Music Ministry. I feel "called" to praise God at Mass with my singing. I could not not do these things. How can you share your time, talent and treasure in our cluster parishes? If music is your thing, please consider joining one of our choirs, or come and play guitar with me at Mass. The more the merrier, and then we can all "hear the bells!"
Linda Guokas
Assistant, Youth Ministry and Adult & Family Ministry
While I don't have the musical ability of people like Linda, music for me is a powerful way to help me pray. I had the honor last week of attending the National Conference of Catholic Youth Ministry (NCCYM) which is a gathering of over 2500 Catholic Youth Ministers from across the country. As part of the conference, we are blessed with the musical talents of some major Catholic musicians, including one of my favorites, Steve Angrisano. Below is a video of Steve singing in an up close and personal way one of the songs that really helps me pray in Advent. I thought I would share it all with you as well. What songs help you pray?
Maureen
Maureen, you asked what songs help us pray. Two pieces I wish to share here. “For You O Lord My Soul in Stillness Waits” is sung at St. Mary’s each Advent, with extra musical accompaniment from a gong (hauntingly lovely). A link to a YouTube a cappella version is here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtAOqi28GQ4
The repeated chorus is . . . “For you oh Lord, my soul in stillness waits. Truly, my hope is in you.” That becomes a gentle breath prayer for me during Advent. The invitation here is to step out of busyness, move past sung words, and nestle into the deep Silence, which reverberates with wonder at God birthing in our lives. Thomas Merton says, “Religious silence is silence that is undertaken as an act of worship. Whether I hear God or not makes no difference.” The holy waiting in Advent stillness does feel like an act of worship.
In March of this year during at-home hospice when my stepfather was dying, I shared with him and my mom the music of “The Deer’s Cry” (I Arise Today) from Shaun Davey’s CD, The Pilgrim. The song had already been a powerful help for me, so that music became a way for Barry and me to pray powerfully together -- when we couldn’t find the words anymore -- in that liminal space of his dying and my grieving.
Below is a link to “The Deer’s Cry,” an awesome version of St. Patrick’s Breastplate, performed by Rita Connolly and accompanied by composer Shaun Davey on the pedal harmonium.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkLzIeztC3c
Music does indeed help me expand prayer. It is especially powerful during this Advent when we prepare for the coming of God-With-Us, in our grievings and our joys and our ordinary moments.
Christine Aalto Jaeger
I enjoy singing because it is participation in the mass and also helps me to be a part of the celebration. But thankfully others also sing so my voice isn't heard to loudly!
ReplyDeleteBob Jandre