Expectations as a Choir Director

The Buck Stops Here

Seriously,
when it comes to decisions about choir
and music ministry,
The Buck Stops Here.
Remember me?
I am The Choir Director.

Now,
I dabbled a bit in previous blog posts
about differing leadership styles.
More specifically,
about leadership styles
a choir director might have.

I tend to be a bit democratic in style.
I welcome suggestions from vocalists and musicians.
I welcome suggestions from the congregation
and most certainly from the pastor.
But in the end,
I make the decisions.
That’s just how it is.
It’s that way it is in the secular world
It’s that way it is in ecclesial life.
There’s always someone
who makes the decisions.

Again,
I’m a bit democratic.
If you don’t like a decision I’ve made,
do feel free to challenge me on it.
Ask me about my why I made it.
If you feel it infringes upon you as choir member,
do let me know.
I’m human, after all.
I may have overlooked a detail
about something.
Seriously,
I am approachable.

However,
I expect certain things from you as choir member
or as a musician accompanying the choir.

I expect you to attend rehearsals.
And if you cannot attend
I expect a phone call or email or facebook message
letting me know about your absence.
If you continue to be absent
you can expect
that I may just ask you to leave the group
until such time that you are able
to attend rehearsals.

I expect you to be prepared for mass.
I pass out any new music at rehearsal.
If you didn’t attend rehearsal
and didn’t call to let me know,
don’t expect me to have all your music
ready in order and waiting for you
for mass on Sunday.
As a choir member or musician,
I expect you to keep your music in order.

And I expect you to arrive early enough
so that you aren’t tuning your guitar
when the greeter is making the formal words of welcome
to the assembly gathered just before mass starts.
I expect you to sing/play the music as rehearsed.
(I expect no musical surprises at mass).

I expect respect for the other members of the group.
The person who plays maracas
is not more important than the person who plays tambourine.
The bass player is not more important
that the person who sings the psalm.
Remember 1 Corinthians 12???
This applies to music ministry as well.
Respect each other
because we need and complete each other.

If you would like to help out with the Children’s Choir
I most certainly would welcome that.
I do so need help with that ever changing group.
However,
I expect you to participate in the archdiocese’s
Protecting God’s Children Program.
Please don’t show up for children’s rehearsal or mass
and want to help if you haven’t completed this course,
or don’t at least have plans of taking this course
in the very near future.
I will be forced to ask you to leave.
I’m sorry if you feel this infringes upon you as a volunteer.
Decision makers, remember them?
Leaders in the Church have decided
that this course is necessary for maximum safety of our children.
And in all honesty,
I can’t say I disagree.
Yes, do come help with the children.
But be aware that as a choir director
I expect you take the Protecting God’s Children class.
That’s what I expect.

Sometimes the sound system works really great.
Other times, not so well.
I expect you to keep your eyes,
one on your music
and one on your director,
for cues regarding mics.
I may ask you to get closer to the mic
or to step away from the mic,
depending on how the sound is that day.
Be aware that the sound varies, also,
with the number of people in attendance.
When the church is full,
we need to eat the mic.
When there are less people
(like for daily mass)
we don’t need to be so close.
Sometimes it’s about the sound system.
Other times it’s about a full church.
And still other times,
it’s about appropriate use of the mic.
As a choir member,
I expect you to watch me
and watch for my cues,
regarding mics.

The same applies to musicians for the choir.
I expect you
to respect the fact
that I will decided
who is too loud
or not loud enough.
As musicians,
we accompany the choir.
We aren’t there for an overthrow.
Yes,
there will be times
when the musicians will do instrumental pieces,
or requinto style intros and interludes.
But if you don’t come to rehearsal,
don’t expect for me to ask you
to “requintear.”

If someone is going flat
(why this phenomenon
that singers go flat,
but rarely go sharp???)
I will give you a cue there as well.
Listen to the piano
as I tend to play an octave higher
to try and help get us back on pitch.
If I know who it is,
I will give that person a specific cue
to listen. . .
If you don’t know what I mean
when I say I will play an octave higher,
this means you haven’t been at rehearsal.
If you don’t know what my cue is
for “you’re the one who is flat, listen up,”
you haven’t been to rehearsal.
I expect to see you at rehearsal.
I expect you to follow my cues.

Yes,
watch my cues.
I decide tempo.
Period.
If the song is moving too slow or too fast,
I will decide that.
Again,
there are cues from your director
about tempo.
I expect you to pay attention.

I expect that all materials used
be put back into place when mass or rehearsal is over.
Anything less is showing a lack of respect
for your fellow choir members,
for the materials used for our ministry,
a lack of respect for me,
and a lack of pride and respect for the ministry itself.
I don’t want to be looking for the tambourine
only to find it hidden in a satchel at the far end of the closet.
And if the tambourine is not the instrument you play
I expect for you not to touch it all.
Period.      

And let me go on a bit of tangent here
and say that most of those hand-held percussion instruments
are owned by yours truly.
Some instruments were purchased here
at local music stores.
But many of these instruments I purchased south of the border
(the maracas, the guiro, the teponaztle).
I brought them in
because I thought use of them
could help enhance the music ministry.
As such,
I grow particularly angry
when they are not put in the proper place
or when they go missing entirely.
You can understand that, can’t you?
End of tangent.
          
OK, a quick summary:
-Come to rehearsal
-Inform me of absence
-Be prepared
-Be respectful
-Watch my cues
-Turn the volume down
-Step away from the mic
-And Quit Hiding The Tambourine!!!!!

In the end,
I guess a little friction, a little agitation
is always necessary.
It keeps us on our toes
(even me!!!)

End of Rubi’s Ramblings.

I Am A Pastoral Musician

I asked a good friend
to offer the opening prayer
at the Choir Festival this Saturday.

Fr. Tom and I go way back.
He asked me
what was has been
the most significant things in my ministry
over these past 30 years.

Below is, quite literally,
the email message I responded with.
I decided to post here
and in my 30 Years In Music Blog as well.
I just thought
that those who read my occasional ramblings
on electronic parchment
might want to know
just what exactly
goes on in Rubi’s head.

The most significant things about my ministry
these past 30 years??

a few things come to mind. . ..

Gratitude
Learning to be grateful for many things,
. . . like years and years of classical piano study my parents gave me.
I hated piano lessons as a teenager,
but now can't imagine my life without it.
We sometimes walked to piano lessons with my mother
because my father worked swing-shift,
I think it was about 7 miles. . . I hated it!!!!
But today,
I am ever grateful my mother made us walk those miles
and made us take those piano lessons. . ..

gratitude. . . .I own a baby grand piano,
also a gift from my mother. . .
. . .What mother ever gave her daughter
a baby grand piano for a gift???

Learning what is my talent. . .
A lot people really don't know what their talent is.
Talent isn't necessarily artistic.
A lot of people don't know that either.
But what is my talent???
.. . is it really music?
Maybe.
But I'm more inclined to think
that it's bringing out the talent in others.
Sometimes they don't even see it.
I help them "see" that all things are possible.
Maybe music is the gift.
But I'm really inclined to think music is the avenue to something greater.
Bringing out the talent of others is the gift.
And even more,
bringing out the musical talent in others,
in turns, helps to bring greater gifts
that they didn't know they had.
 . . yes. . . music is the avenue. . .

The most significant thing?
The children.
Every parish I have ever served in
I have tried hard to develop a children's choir.
Some places had success stories to tell, others not so much.
80% of people who sing in choirs as an adult
sang in a choir as a child.
This is a music ministry no-brainer.
After 30 years,
I am graced by God to see and experience this statistic first-hand.

. . .and children are so free.
I love working with adults,
but adults always have an opinion. .
. . it's too fast, too slow, too high, too low,
it's a boring song, I don't like that song,
the other song was better, why do we have to learn this song. . .
Children just sing.
Children make you laugh.
And when they get it, when they really get,
the children will make you cry.

Even more,
I am a child of the 80%.
I sang in the children's choir once upon a time.
Who would have thought that a gazillion years later,
I would be living out the statistic
that I so often quote to others . .
 . . in more ways than one. . .

In the end,
I know that I am not just leading music
for Sunday to Sunday.
I am doing something
that will create the musician
who will one day replace me.
That director will come from the children.
80% of people who sing in choirs as adults
sang in a choir as a child.
And one of those children will actually grow up
to be the parish's music director.

Yes
the children are the most significant part
of my music ministry. . .

. . .another thought about things significant. .  .

Music in general.
A musician takes years to make.
And just being a musician
doesn't necessarily make one a Pastoral Musician.
Still,
it takes years to make a musician.

In recent years,
I've dedicated a part of myself
to help create musicians,
more specifically, pianists.

I teach at both
COMPAS - Center of Music and Performing Arts Southwest
and
Garage Cultural - Center of Music and Visual Arts.
And more recently,
offering lessons in my home studio.

While neither of these schools are on
an ecclesial acre of land,
I do consider it a part of my mission and ministry.
In fact,
some of my students have been my own choir members,
one of which will be a soloists during the children's portion
of Saturday's program.

But again. . .
it goes back to the mission
of creating the musician who will one day replace me.

I guess what I'm trying to say
is that it's not enough to know
that 80% of people who sing in the choir as adult
sang in a choir as a child.
It's not enough to form a children's choir,
to form the children in the music ministry.
I think it is also necessary
to form that young musician,
who,
in time,
will be formed as a Pastoral Musician.

. . .while my ministry has had her ups and downs,
her fun pastors to work with
and her not so fun pastors to work with,
I wouldn't change it for the world.
I am a Pastoral Musician.
This is my Vocation.

. . and that vocation continues to grow and evolve
even after 30 years. . . .

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

about the photo:
the musically talented hands of one of my piano students!

Pastoral Musical Leadership Styles - Part 4 - The Democrat

No, not a political party,
but a leadership style
where the whole group has voice.
For the most part,
my leadership style is participative.
That means
that I like to allow the people I lead,
which in this case,
is the members of the music ministry,
via a style that is participative, democratic.
I like them to have a voice,
an opinion in the music we use.
The final decisions always rest with me
as I am the music director.

Using a democratic leadership approach
the choir members truly feel like a part of a team,
like their input matters.
And quite frankly,
it does.

Now,
don’t get me wrong.
A democratic leadership style
doesn’t mean
that if someone says,
“I don’t like that song,”
we don’t do that song.
I’m speaking here
more of a participation
in the creativity.

For example,
I may choose to introduce a new song.
In my mind
I can hear the alto section
or the sopranos
or percussion instruments in a particular fashion.
Maybe it’s my own creative vision
or maybe it’s what’s printed in the music,
but I usually have a clear sound
dancing around in my head.
And then we get to rehearsal
and Ana finds a unique and outstanding descant
in her mind
that I never found in mine.
Nellie finds that alto harmony
that totally meshes with what Ana is doing.
Not only is the finished piece of music
much grander than what I could come up with alone,
these ladies are contributing,
are becoming owners of the ministry.

The danger of this leadership style
is that it can lead to a choir discussion
as opposed to a choir rehearsal.
But a good leader
knows how to pull back into rehearsal mode
and must decide
which of the various musical suggestions,
if any,
to put into play.

I have found this leadership style
truly promotes creativity,
truly motivates people to participation.
In fact,
sometimes it’s almost like we have a psychic connection.
Marcy starts playing her guitar
and I know exactly where she is going.
Sometimes we just laugh out loud
because we realize that something strange,
but creatively beautiful is going on.
That strange and beautiful thing
won’t happen
if the leader only follows a militant leadership style,
always barking out commands
and never giving choir members a voice.


Another good thing
about this leadership style. . .
. . .(reminder:
I’m discussing a pastoral music leader). . .
. . .is that it is a great way
to find those talents
that lay hidden, dormant
in your members.

Dolores,
who played percussion with a group I direct
for many years,
is absolutely The Queen
of hand held percussion instruments.
She’d hear a song
and instantly know
which instrument is best
and quickly find the rhythm. .
. . . she’d know when to enter
to create interesting dynamics,
she’d know when to change it up.
Dolores is clearly a lady
of the rhythm section.
That being the case,
why would I,
a lady of the keyboard world,
ever try to limit her creativity?
Let your people
(those with rhythm)
creatively play with rhythm toys!!!

Heavy sigh. . . .
. . . I so-o-o-o miss Dolores.
She moved to Chicago. . . .

Yes,
the rehearsals can get messy
using this leadership style.
But if you aren’t flexible
you probably shouldn’t be
a music director anyway.
The mess
is a part of the creative process.
Enjoy it!!

Yes,
the group sometimes
ends up spending a great deal of time
on some songs,
but that’s why they call it rehearsal.
And really,
your rehearsal agenda
should always be looking far enough ahead
into the future.
If all you are concerned about in your rehearsal agenda
is what’s coming up this Sunday,
you’ve totally missed the mark
as a director anyway.
If in June
you aren’t already at least thinking
about September’s repertoire of new stuff,
you’re missing the boat.
Plan far enough in advance
so that your Sunday stuff
will take care of itself.
Advance planning
gives your choir time
to get creative.
Let your choir,
encourage your choir,
to participate in the creativity.

In the end,
if only the printed music score
or only the director’s creativity is used
the world will miss out
on some fine music
that could be,
but never was.

And what if the director
isn’t so creative?
And what if the music in question is great,
but the music score is lousy?
Should the choir
and the music ministry
suffer because of these two draw-backs?
I certainly hope not.
Especially
if there is talent in the ranks
just waiting to be developed,
honed,
and used
for the Glory of Our God.

Besides,
one person cannot possibly know everything.
One person cannot possible create everything
when it comes to music.

And,
in the end,
we are doing more than
preparing music for mass.
The choir is a small ecclesial community.
As directors
we must do all we can to build that community,
not just from the neck up
(learning new music)
but from the neck down
(participation from the heart).

And while I may use
the other leadership styles
on an “as needed” basis,
this is the leadership style,
the democratic/participative leadership style,
I have claimed for myself.

It brings forth flexibility and creativity.
It creates commitment and community.
It’s messy and fun!

The Cherubs

The Cherubs are on my mind.
These heavenly beings
are on my mind.

I made some angel pins
for my niece’s baby shower this past weekend.
Maybe that’s why
The Cherubs
are on my mind.

And someone once told me
that angels gather
where there are flowers.
My lilies are in full bloom
and every time my flowers bloom
I like to think
that what she told me is true,
that the angels are gathering,
admiring my blooms.

Last week just before
the children’s mass
a mother
of one of the new choir members
asked me about forming a choir
for the wee ones.
I’m talkin’ wee ones,
3-6 years old.
I told her
that I had already given that some thought,
though I’ve never formally
talked to our pastor about it.
She has a daughter
who is in that age range.
That child
is constantly coming up to me
and singing something!

Cherub Choir:
The nudges are all around me.

Estefania,
who joined the choir
a couple of months ago,
has a younger sister
who sings everything
and dances if it’s an upbeat song.
This wee one
is already coming to rehearsals
with her sister,
though she is really too young
to be in the children’s choir.

Wendy,
one of our best singers,
has a younger sister
who loves to sing.

And Jean Paul
has two younger sisters
who clearly fit
The Cherub description.

So,
without much effort,
the backbone
of The Cherub Choir
already exists.

What’s on my mind is very simple.
I’d like to tell the children stories
and then teach the song
that goes with the story.
But before I teach the song
I’d ask them about the story,
to make sure they were listening,
to make sure they understand the story.
This would help to reinforce listening skills.
My, how we adults
don’t even know how to listen.
Imagine teaching children
from the youngest age
to really listen.

The story would reinforce the song
and vice versa.

And I would teach them
much the way I teach
their older brothers and sisters.
I would recite the words in rhythm
and have them recite it back in rhythm.
It’s rote learning,
and,
again,
this is about listening.

I would pluck out the melody on the piano
and then pluck it out again
and sing it
and then have them sing it back.
Once I see they’ve got it
I’d add the accompaniment,
and then move on to the next verse
or refrain.

The following week
I would see which child
could tell the story back to me.
I would see which child
could sing the song back to me.

And then
I’d probably introduce movement
or hand gestures
if there is anything
that goes with that particular song.
Moving in rhythm
will only help to prepare them
for hand help percussion instruments.

And I am learing
(albeit, on my onw)
the Kodaly Method.

What I’ve seen so far
using this method is amazing,
but it has really on been on internet video.
And yet,
it seems so simple.
Why didn't I learn of this method
25 years ago?

I only wish there was a class
close to me where I could study
the Kodaly Method formally.
But,
as I so often do,
I digress.
My point is,
I could teach them rhythm
using Kodaly.


And then,
we’d probably tell another story
and start another song.

But I would probably start each session
with some music games,
some learning games.
Something fun,
but something that will teach them.
Something that would get them
up out of their seats
and moving around.
This would at once
serve as a distraction
to keep their minds busy,
but also could be
just another rhythm game.

I can’t envision a rehearsal with them
being much more than ½ hour or 45 minutes.
And I don’t know when
that rehearsal might be. . .
. . maybe just before
or just after rehearsal
with the older kids,
seeing how many would probably be siblings. . .
. . but to be honest,
I don’t want the older kids there.
I think this could be very distracting
to the little, little ones.
I don’t think I’d even want the parents there,
except maybe one or two to help,
but to REALLY help.

And I haven’t quite figured out
how/where to use them in worship. . .
. . . probably a song or two
at the regular Thursday evening
children’s liturgy. . . .
. . . .with an occasional presence
during the year at weekend masses. . . .

.. . .or maybe try to put something together
that could be incorporated into
the Christmas program
that is also dancing in my head. . . .

And I still haven’t researched
age appropriate music for worship,.
though Christopher Walker
does have a collection
that is available
in both Spanish and English,
Stories and Songs of Jesus.
And it would need to be something
that uses both languages,
though I’m thinking
primarily in Spanish,
Walker’s collection
also has a coloring book
based on those same songs.
This would certainly be a start. . . .

Or maybe this should just be
a pilot project
to see if there is interest,
to see if I haven’t
gone off my rocker
thinking I can do this. . .
. . . .maybe a six week project
followed by evaluation.

In any event,
the words are out of Rubi’s head
and on electronic parchment.
My pastor is bound to read this,
sooner or later.

Does anyone in the blogosphere
have a Cherub Choir?
What words of wisdom
can you offer???

- - - - - - - - -
About the photos:
these are the angel lapel pins that I made for my niece's baby shower, obviously, made of noodles. they are painted with spray paint and i used a hot glue gun to put the pieces together.

The Cherubs, The Dancers, The Children, The Mariachi, and Summer Camp

I have been so busy lately.
I know I haven’t finished
writing all of The Road to Juquila blog entries.
I still have some thoughts about that trip:
about holy water;
about Our Lady’s mantle;
the story of Juquila.
And I promise to post all of that
as soon as possible.

But I really have been so-o-o busy.

February saw me working like a mad woman
on a proposal of sorts.
I don’t want to write to much about that here.
I only mean to say
that I did a lot writing
and a lot of soul searching.
Whether or not the grant money will arrive
is really only the half of it.
I learned so much from the process.
I needed to write
a personal mission statement
and vision statement.
One can learn a lot about self
in just such a process.
It was a time consuming process,
a draining process.
But mostly,
it was a selving process.

I continue to work at COMPAS
(Center of Music and Performing Arts Southwest).
To tell the truth,
I am finding that I love this job more and more.
I had two new piano students yesterday.
I think this puts me at 21 piano students now.
To tell the truth,
I’ve lost count!
And that just confirms for me
what I truly believe the Holy Spirit is calling me to.

You see,
I’ve been working in the music ministry
for well over 20 years. . . .about 28 years.
And I’ve led adult choirs,
children’s choirs, women’s choir.
I’ve worked with flutists, guitarists,
other organists and pianists.
I’ve worked with cellists, violinists,
bag pipers and trumpet players.
I’ve worked with cantors and soloists.
I’ve coordinated and collaborated
with various Mariachi groups.

But, somehow,
I feel this push,
this nudge.
It’s not just about planning and preparing
the music for liturgy anymore.
Oh, I love that
and will continue to do that forever, I do believe.
But I find I’m being called
to do more than that.

I find that I am being called
to create the musician today
that will become
the pastoral musician tomorrow.

One of my piano students
is a member of St. Gabriel’s children choir,
another child from the choir
is a voice student.

Two of my piano students,
sisters,
attend the evening mass
and often ask me about the songs from last Sunday,
what chords I used,
who cantored the psalm, etc.

Another of my piano students,
a gentleman
(whose daughter is also my student)
states that the only reason he wants to learn
is so that he can one day
lead the music at church.

One of my piano students
is a guitarist that works with me
in the music ministry at St. Gabriel’s.

The youth mariachi at COMPAS
is taught by Mr. Newhouse.
I often go downstairs
and just spend time with these wonderful young people.
I’ve sang with them a couple of times,
just for fun.
These young musicians
are currently working on a mass setting.
Mr. Newhouse and I
are presently visioning
how we can bring these young musicians
to church,
a mass where youth mariachi are the musicians
and the children’s choir
lead the singing.
It’s still all just an idea.
But at least we are planning and discussing
and putting it out there!

But even more,
a few members of the choir at St. Gabriel
are starting to ask me questions
about a lot more than the songs for liturgy.
A few of them
asked me for a keyboard chord chart.
Others are asking me,
not only how to play or sing a scale,
but how to create and form it,
about how to find the chords
that go with the scale.
When I explained the circle of fifths,
a light bulb went on
for one of the guitarists.

Yes,
I truly feel called,
to not only plan and prepare the music for worship,
but to also help create the musician
that will lead that music tomorrow.
And to create the opportunity,
especially for young people,
to lead the music themselves
every once in a while.

This is not at all to say
that I feel any less called
to a good old fashioned
pastoral music ministry.
On the contrary,
I vision much for St. Gabriel parish.

The children’s choir is doing fine,
though I still believe
that she could be twice the size
that she currently is.
Honestly,
I think 45 members
is optimum for a children’s choir,
for a variety of reasons,
which I won’t detail here.
But my point is,
while the children’s choir is holding its own,
there is much room for growth.

I am also increasingly aware
that there needs to be
a youth/teen music ministry in place.
I know the pastor has been visioning
and working on this,
but, I too, begin to see the future.
There must be place
for the children to grow into with their music
after they leave the children’s choir.
And I am increasingly aware
that this youth/teen music ministry
must be something that reflects teen culture,
not just the same old church stuff.

I also being to see
where a Cherub Choir needs to form,
a place where children ages 3-6
can begin their life of music ministry.
I haven’t mentioned this to the pastor yet,
but I’d like to flesh this idea out a bit
and perhaps start just such a program
by Sept. 2010.

And I have this idea,
an idea that has been with me
for many, many years,
long before coming to St. Gabriel,
about holding
a children’s music ministry summer camp.
I have been VERY impressed
by the Vacation Bible School at St. Gabriel.
And I begin to realize
that I am walking on the holy ground
where this music summer camp
may be able to take life.

I envision this being
time dedicated to a specific musical element,
the psalms, for example.
Or perhaps mass settings.

I envision this to include much more
than just the hum drum vocal exercises,
but to include
how music can be found all around us:
in the siren of the fire engine,
in the meow of a cat,
in the doorbell.

I envision this music summer camp
closing with a concert,
featuring new music learned.
But also closing with a challenge for these children:
What are you going to do
with the knowledge gained?
How are you going to make music better
for your church?
I envision not only teaching music,
but teaching that what we have received as a gift
we must give as a gift.

And then there is the parish dance troupe.
Yes,
I said dance troupe.
St. Gabriel has a Mexican Folkloric Ballet.
A wonderful group of young people
who make it their mission
to learn and preserve this wonderful art.
A number of churches in southwest Detroit
have dance groups,
but none of them,
to my knowledge,
are incorporating these talented youth
into liturgical celebrations.

Now,
I know the liturgical police
will probably place me under arrest
for even suggesting this.
So be it.
But I really would LOVE to see
these kids dance. . .
While we sing the Gloria. . .
While we sing Santo, Santo, Santo. . . .
Oh, what beautiful movements of praise
can be made!

. . . .and what if. . . .
What if. . .
What if the youth mariachi from COMPAS
served as musicians
and what if the children’s choir leads the singing. . .
And what if the folkloric ballet dances. . .
Wow!!!!

Oh, yes!
I am definitely being called,
being pushed and pulled
into something more. . . .

The Cherubs,
The Dancers,
The Children,
The Mariachi,
and Summer Camp. . .
If I could just get all of this stuff out of my head
and into reality. . . .

I realize that a lot of what I suggest here
will require funding,
which probably doesn’t exist right now.
But I’m game for looking for the money.
Writing this all out
on to electronic parchment
at least puts the ideas out there.
Goals and objectives can be written later.
Volunteers can be sought when the time comes.
For right now,
it’s just getting the ideas out of Rubi’s Head.
Once in better shape,
we (yes, I said “we”)
can look for funding.

The Cherubs,
The Dancers,
The Children,
The Mariachi,
and Summer Camp. . .

. . .yeah,
I’ve gone mad.
That will be my excuse
when the liturgical police
come to place me under arrest. . . .

The Amazing Miss Wendy

I’ve been officially directing the children’s choir at St. Gabriel
for one year now.
It was at the end of September of 2008
that I first began.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years,
it’s that one must constantly evaluate.
Set the goals and make the objectives.
And, during the course of the year,
make any necessary adjustments needed
to reach that goal.

After the first few rehearsals with these amazing children
I knew well that I would having them singing in parts
within two years.

There were some other kinds of things we needed to work on first,
like attention span
and discipline.
And though most of them speak Spanish
they do not read Spanish,
which makes reading music
and singing in Spanish a bit of a challenge.

And while some weren’t quite singing on pitch at first,
it wasn’t because they couldn’t.
It was just that they needed to learn how to hear,
learn how to listen to a particular note or musical phrase.
So,
I had to and continue to
teach them how to listen.

But underneath it all,
I could see the diamond in the rough.
I knew from the beginning
that this group of children
was fully capable of singing in harmony,
of singing in parts.
I knew well that I would have them doing so
within two years.
But the fact is,
this is making itself manifest right now.
It’s messy,
but they get it.
They understand why
there is new special seating arrangement,
why we are now rehearsing
different groups of children on different days.

But one of the other goals I had
was one that I knew I would probably never see.
Not that it wouldn’t happen,
but that I probably wouldn’t be here
to see it happen.
That goal
is to have these children singing in the choir
as adults.

Since first coming to St. Gabriel
one of the things I have been saying to people
is that 80% of people who sing in a choir as an adult
sang in a choir as a child.
I heard that statistic quite some time ago
at a conference of
the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM).
I can’t remember the source of the statistic
or who quoted it.
I only remember what was said.
I find it so hard to believe
that more churches,
Roman Catholic or otherwise
aren’t doing more with music and children.

But,
as I said,
I didn’t think I would see this come to life.
I didn’t think I would be here
to see the movings of the Holy Spirit
once these children got older.

But you know,
I didn’t have to wait.
One child in particular,
is showing me
that she has no intention
of ever leaving the music ministry.
Apart from her commitment to the choir,
this child truly understands
what is meant
by co-responsibility.
She understands stewardship better than most.

That child is Wendy.

Wendy and her family
attend the Spanish mass at St. Gabriel.
And there is an adult choir for that mass.

They also attend the Thursday evening mass,
where Wendy and several other children
serve in the music ministry.

Wendy is in the third grade
and has perfect attendance at choir rehearsal.

This past weekend,
Wendy was at the noon mass in English.
I didn’t see her until mass was over.
She came up to the choir loft to say, “hello,”
and then asked me where all the people were.
“What people,” I asked.
“The people in the choir.”
“I lead the music for this mass, Wendy.
Robyn has started to help recently,
but that’s all there is for this mass.”

“You mean
you don’t have a choir?”
“No, Wendy,
there is no choir for the noon mass.
I’ve asked some people.
I’ve invited several folks
to come to the music area
to help.
I’ve encouraged folks to come early
to come to choir loft
to rehearse a little before mass.
But so far,
it’s just me and Robyn.”

Wendy looked up at me
with eyes that told me she was serious
about what she was going to say
she put her hands on hips and said,
“What are we going to do about it?”

Wisdom from the mouth of babes.
It’s not just that she had this sense
of wanting and needing to see
a music ministry developed.
She included herself in the equation;
“What are WE going to do about it?”

Wendy gets it.
I have no doubt that she will continue in the music ministry
into her teen
and even into her adult years.
I have no doubt that she will be
actively involved in parish life in the years to come.

80% of people who sing in a choir as an adult
sang as a child.
Keep your eyes on Wendy.
Because she will be a part of that group.
Her parents would do well
to get that child a guitar and/or keyboard
and send her to private lessons.
She will have my job one day.

The Amazing Miss Wendy
has question that remains unanswered.
Can you,
will you
include yourself in the equation?
There is not a choir for the noon mass.
What are we going to do about it?

And that’s not just a question
for the people of one Southwest Detroit parish to answer.
It’s a question to be answered
by any parish that does not have a choir
or active music ministry.

What are we going to do about it?

Children's Choirs

Children's Choirs.
Why is it that more churches don't have them?
I have been wracking my brain on this one.

You see,
I've been trying to organize an event
for children's choirs:
A Children's Choir Festival.
I was hoping to invite several choirs
from the area
to participate in this event.
I was hoping to make it an annual event,
something the kids could look forward to.

There's only one problem:
I'm having a heck of time
finding churches in the area
(Catholic or otherwise)
that actually have a children's music ministry.

I've tried my Facebook friends.
I've made phone calls.
I've asked pastors
if they know of pastors of other churches
that might have children's choirs . . .

Most of the places and people
I have been in contact with
have a children's choir for Christmas.
But not much more than that.

Why is this?
I mean,
there's a ripple effect
in a children's music ministry.
Get the kids involved
and parents and grandparents want to be there.
And brothers and sisters
have no alternative
but to be in church.

Many years ago
at an NPM convention
a speaker
(I don't remember who)
was quoting statistics.
I can't remember the source
of the statistics either.
The only thing I remember clearly
is one of the statistics given:
80% of people who sing in choirs as adults
sang in a choir as child.

Like anyone else
who has attended an NPM event,
I went to many workshops and concerts that year.
But that sole statistic
was the most powerful part of the event for me.
How can one not but act upon that statistic?

Why don't we have more churches
with children's choirs?

Why aren't we teaching our children
the difference between
crescendo
and decrescendo?

Why aren't we teaching our children
what a fermata is,
what a repeat sign is?

Why aren't we teaching our children
to sing the psalms?

Why aren't we teaching our children
to memorize the Eucharistic acclamations?

Why aren't we teaching our children
to sing in parts?
Why aren't we using the wonderful gift
that is Taize
to help us to that end?

Why don't more people see
that apart from all of the music stuff they will learn
they will learn and affirm the faith?


So,
why don't more churches
have children's choirs?

I currently serve
in a Southwest Detroit Parish.
The children's choir I direct
sings mostly in Spanish,
but does have a few songs in English
in their repertoire
as well as some Taize in Latin.

It is about as inner city as it comes.
But you know,
of all of the ministries\I've been involved in over the years,
this one is the most life giving.
Perhaps it's because I'm at a point in my ministry
where I can see that statistic given at an NPM event
so many years ago
come into its own.
. . .and. . . yeah. . .
. . . I sang in a choir as a child, too!. . . .


And you know,
I would be amiss
if I did not send out kudos
to Oregon Catholic Press
for their collection,
"El Señor Nos Invita."
This work provided
a most excellent starting ground
with my work
with this particular group of amazing children.
I only hope OCP plans to do more work like this!

I would also be missing the mark
if I didn't mention how much the work
of Lee Gwozdz has inspired me.
Lee,
I just thought you might like to know
that Patrick Star of SpongeBob Squarepants fame,
frequently attends our rehearsals.
I never would have thought of inviting him
if it weren't for you!

I will still most likely host an event
for the fabulous musical children this fall.
But it most likely won't be a choir festival.
But I'll continue to work on that.
I'll post info about the fall event
once I have it all in line.

In the meantime,
get busy
and get your children's choir started!
It only takes a spark. . . . . .

.. and hey, if you'd like to discuss this further,
feel free to contact me
via my Facebook!

How to teach a choir a new song

OK.
I know this sounds like a silly title
for a blog entry.
But you know,
there really are different ways to teach.
I'm not just talking about
different leadership styles.
I'm talkin' about how people learn.

Specifically,
I wanna write about how people
who don't read music
learn a new song.

First of all,
if you have many musicians,
I would recommend at least a once a month rehearsal
for musicians. . .apart from the choir.
If there is only one guitarist
and a pianist. . .well, that might work.
But really. . .if there are several guitarists
or other instrumentalists
I would recommend planning your liturgies
at least one month in advance.
Pass music out.
Let musicians look at music at home.
Now. . .I'm not saying
not to welcome them to a rehearsal.
But I really think that musicians
should rehearse as musicians separate from the choir.
Musicians should not be learning music
at the same rehearsal that the choir is.

Why do I say that?
It's not just about the musicians.
It's about the choir.

To put it simply,
people learn a new song best
voice to voice.
In other words, sing it and let the choir repeat it back.
No instruments.
Not even a basic accompaniment.
Just voice to voice.

There can be such a thing as too much music,
at least as far as learning a new song goes.
Too much music, too much accompaniment
can throw folks off.
They are searching for the melody or harmony.
Give them the whole score and it lengthens the learning process.
Now,
most of us rehearse 1 1/2 to 2 hours a week.
Time is precious commodity.
Don't we want to shorten the time it takes
to learn a new song?
And, again,
let me say that I'm writing here
about a choir whose members don't read music.

Another tactic,
perhaps even before the voice to voice approach,
is to recite the text in rhythm.
I do this ALWAYS
the children's choir I direct.
The thing is,
once you start,
once the choir knows that this is the process
they will begin to pay more attention
when you speak the text in rhythm.
Almost as if by some sort of osmosis
they will learn how to listen better.

If a syllable has more than one note,
stretch the note out with an "h"
as you recite that text in rhythm.
(This is the Day
the Lord - hord- has made.)
Speak it in rhythm a few times.
Then, pluck out the melody on the piano.
Just the melody.
Then, go voice to voice.

And, again,
speaking of the choir
whose members don't read music,
I would suggest rehearsing the song
for three weeks
(or 3 rehearsals)
before introducing it at mass.

Why do I say this?
Because even though the song may be very easy,
many of them will forget their part
once the return home from rehearsal.
They may remember that it was upbeat
or solemn.
They may remember that the men did something different,
or that the key was high or low.
But they might not remember their specific part.
And next week. . .
well. . .let's face the truth here. . .
some of them might come next week.
And then you'll some who come next week
who weren't there when you introduced the piece.
So. . .that's why I suggest three rehearsals.

I know, I know.
Attendance is important and people should come
to every rehearsal.
But that, my friends,
is another blog entry.

Just remember these two things,
if you don't remember anything else:
1) Speak the text in rhythm
2) Teach the song voice to voice.

Please. . .
. . it will save us all so much time and frustration. . . .

Easter Concert at Detroit's St. Gabriel Parish

A concert of of Easter Music,
including some original works by our pastor,
Fr. Jaime Hinojos.

This concert will feature the adult choir
as well as the children's choir.
The choir's will each sing selected works
and then will sing together.

I make no promises,
but the event may include
a piano solo by yours truly!

I've been directing the adult choir
at this church for about 1 month.
I've been directing the children's choir
since late September of 2008.

The music for this event will be in Spanish.
All are welcome!

There is no charge for this event,
only a desire to come and experience
the music ministry of Detroit's St. Gabriel parish!

Come and see where I've been serving
for the past few months.
You might just come to understand
why I struggled so much with a decision
to return to inner city ministry.
This really is a special place!

St. Gabriel Music Ministry

Concert - Saturday, April 18, 2009
7:00pm

St. Gabriel Church
8118 W. Vernor Highway
Detroit, MI

Mananitas for Our Lady of Guadalupe

Yes. . .I was one of those crazy people
that get up in the wee hours of the morning
to go to church to "wake " Our Lady of Guadalupe on Her feastday.
Here are some photos I took this morning.
Pictures include Mariachi, Band,
and choir and singers from the parish.
A few pics of people
who participated in the "open mic" as well,
including a very young child.
Sorry.
No photos of children's choir.
I can't accompany
and take pictures at the same time!
Pictures taken at the mananitas this morning
at Detroit's St. Gabriel parish.
And sorry not to spend too much time cleaning photos up.
I just wanted to get them up today!
Happy December 12th!

More On Decisions

Recent decisions in my life
Have changed my worship
And rehearsal schedule.

Because of recent decisions made,
I now serve as a pastoral musician,
And choir director,
For six different liturgies
In two different languages
Rehearsing five different groups
In three different parishes.
Every week.
OK. . .well… .one of those groups
Only rehearses every other week.
And not all of those groups sing every week.
And not all of those masses have a choir.
But. . .still. . . .my worship schedule has changed.

I know.
it sounds a bit frazzled,
But it isn’t really.
My music planning tends to overlap.
It’s really only a challenge
In the sense that these parishes
All use different hymnals.
For the most part,
The day and time of each of these liturgies
And rehearsals don’t conflict.

Well. . .at least they didn’t
Until late summer
When I was formally asked
To form/direct a children’s choir
For one of these parishes.

A part of me really wanted to do this.
Of all the groups I have led over the years,
There are two kinds of groups
That are just so life giving to me:
Women’s choirs
And
Children’s choirs.

These children are bilingual,
Though not all of them are bi-literate.
Their parents primary speak Spanish.

This children’s choir, however,
Would require me spending much time
In inner city Detroit.
I’ve been involved in an inner city ministry before.
It really takes a special commitment
To this ministry.

A part of me resisted. .. .
The distance to drive
(especially in snowy weather),
The pay would be meager,
And just the plain messiness
That comes with inner city work.

Don’t get me wrong.
I firmly believe that an inner city ministry
Brings forth great blessings to those involved.
But the pastoral musician
Called to serve in such a place
Must have the vision
To see beyond the messiness
And peal away the layers
To bring forth the gems that are hiding there.

The week to week involvement with the children
Would require a slight change
In my involvement
With the primary parish I serve in.
That seemed to work itself out
Without too much of a kerfuffle.
At least,
It did at first.

But then. . . well. . .
I was asked to prepare the children for Christmas.
I had to think long and hard about that.
I had to pray, reflect and discern.
To accept this
Meant that I would not be present for Christmas
At my primary parish.

In the end,
The decision I made
Was to spend this Christmas
In this Southwest Detroit parish.

This would still require me
To prepare Christmas with my primary parish,
Although other musicians,
Guest musicians,
would accompany.

No, this was not an easy decision to make.
And certainly not one
that will earn me any income.

In fact,
I will end up in the red financially by doing this.
But, as I said in a previous blog entry,
Decisions made via a true discernment process
Are not about money.
If it were,
I probably wouldn’t be involved
In any kind of ministry at all.

Inner city ministry is a special calling.
It’s messy.
Participants are often transitory.
There’s a different concept of time,
A different concept of structure.

There is a deep reverence
Given to popular piety,
A strong commitment
To popular faith expression.
Sadly,
the gift of popular religiosity
is often looked upon as superstitious
or not needeed
in suburban parishes.
So, this aspect of this particular parish
really is gift.

Liturgy is noisy here.
Really.
The liturgy is noisy.
For those of you who like that quite time after receiving the Eucharist
Or after the readings. . .well. . .
You can just forget that.
It’s not gonna happen. . .
. . .at least, not at this particular parish.
(another reason to seek the quiet
that comes in the early morning hours.)

Children acting like children abound.
Sometimes parents don’t realize
That they ought to be in the cry room
Or just watched a little better.
Now, that’s not a complaint nor a criticism.
In fact,
It’s praise.
Young couples with young children
Are going to church in droves
In the inner city, at least, in this parish.
How awesome is that?
I think that is absolutely magnificent.
But that creates…well. . .a messy and noisy liturgy.

If you can’t become a part of the messiness
Of this type of liturgical life
Then inner city ministry is not your calling.

If you can’t see the tremendous possibilities
That lay dormant
Waiting to blossom and become,
Dormant in the children
And in the noise,
Then inner city ministry is not your calling.

If you are the person in the pew
That is complaining because some wayward child
Just ran down the center aisle
And the parent is nowhere to be found,
Then inner city ministry is not for you.

If you are the person who realizes
That mom and dad both work
And one of them is still struggling
To get their immigration papers in order
And that even though their three-year-old daughter
Just ran down the aisle
It’s consecration.
And they need to be in the moment,
In the sacred space of the moment. . .
.. .well, maybe then you realize
the gift that is inner city.
The little girl isn’t going anywhere.
In fact,
She’s in church.
What an absolutely fabulous place for her to be.
It’s noisy and messy.

But mom and dad and daughter,
With all of their life’s struggles,
Are in church.
I praise God for that
And I’ll find my personal quiet time with God.
Some other time.
For this liturgy
Is a communal prayer moment.
And in order to be in the communion
One must accept the mess
And the noise that comes with it.

That’s not to say
That we shouldn’t work
At creating sacred silence in the liturgy,
At having parents use the cry room.
It’s only to say
That inner city liturgical life
Is a very unique experience, indeed.

There is also great creativity
In an inner city ministry.
When people don’t have a lot of money
To accomplish their goals
They find some very creative ways
Of reaching those goals.
And this is one thing that I absolutely love:
The Creativity.

Now, don’t get me wrong.
I am in no way saying that suburban folk aren’t creative.
It’s just a different sort of creativity.
And as a poet and musician,
I find that I am constantly seeking out
Different forms of being creative.

Having said all of the above
I realize that I am the musician
That can see those gems, those pearls,
That are lying dormant,
That are waiting to grow and become. . .
. .. I have the eyes that see
the gift that comes in the messiness.
I can see the gems in the children.
I can see the great gifts
That this inner city parish
Can give to the larger church.

If I didn’t see it,
This decision
Would not have been so hard.

And yet,
There are some who have treated me
Absolutely terrible because of it.
So be it.

Of all of the things I learned in Cursillo,
I think this is what stays with me most:
“To See, To Judge, To Act.”
The thing is,
If you can see it
You have a responsibility to act upon it.

And I think maybe
Those who aren’t happy with my decision
Probably just can’t see it.

I know that I will eventually
Be called to make some other decisions later.
But that bridge cannot be crossed
Until she presents herself.
And with the clustering process,
It would seem that some paths are being made
For me, and for others,
That aren’t quite totally visible yet.
I cannot decide to continue on any one path
Until all of those paths are set clear before me.

And what of my primary parish?
Who will lead music for Christmas?
Well, first of all,
There are some very competent musicians
Who are a part of the music every week.
It certainly is not a situation
Where no one was left to lead music.
And, to be quite honest,
I was a bit surprised
At how easy it was
To find a guest organist/pianist
For each of the Christmas masses.
And even though one musician
Who had previously committed to lead music
Then recanted their offer to help,
It was by the grace of God
That another musician
Quite literally picked up the phone
And called me to say,
“Here I Am!”

In a previous blog
I wrote about how some decisions
Bring about gifts we never would have expected.
One of the guest musicians I found
Was actually feeling a bit out of sorts.
This was going to be the first year
That this person
didn’t serve as pastoral musician for Christmas
In many years.
This person actually thanked me
For the opportunity to sing God’s praises
For the celebration of Christmas.
But you see,
It takes my not being present
To create this opportunity.
It takes my being absent from music
To give the gift of music to another.

And I must be totally honest.
The clustering situation really is taking it’s toll on me.
A part of me wishes
We would just go ahead and get on with it.
Cluster us.
Merge us.
Whatever it is we are to be,
Just create it already.

If some of us will lose our jobs,
Well. . .tell us already.
If our mass schedule will change,
Let’s go ahead and change it already.
If we must get a new pastor
Or worship in a different church building,
Why can’t we just get on with the process
And do it already???
I’ve been at this primary parish
For 3½ years now
And while I knew and understood
That this process was taking place,
It just amazes me
How much the clustering process
Is just dragging along.


I am not the type of pastoral musician
Who comes in just to “fill in the slot,”
Making sure that this mass or that mass
Has someone “doing” music.
I need to belong.
I am not the person who just comes in,
Plays for mass and then leaves.
I have an ardent desire
To belong to the community I serve in.

“To See, To Judge, To Act.”
I would rather act
Than react.
And I can only act
With the information I have.

Spending Christmas in southwest Detroit is a process.
I am creating some new friendships,
Developing some new relationships
That I am very happy to have.
The inner city will probably never
Pay a salary to a pastoral musician/music director
That a suburban parish can.
But I find that I do belong to this community.
And, whatever else may happen with the clustering process,
I have a great weight lifted from my shoulders
Knowing that this parish
is willing to adopt me,
If only to prepare children for Christmas.
Do you understand?
I belong.

I hope you enjoyed the song, Mi burrito Sabanero.
This song is one of the many songs
that the children of Detroit
are preparing for Christmas.
And you know,
I can teach them this song.
If I couldn’t, well, the decision to do Christmas
In Detroit wouldn’t have been so hard.
But I can teach them.
And if I don’t teach them,
. . .well. . . that would make me
About as useful
As the person from that gospel story
A few weeks ago
Who buried his talent.
I don’t know about you,
But I can’t own that.

The Cursillo taught me
“to see, to judge, to act,”
and so, I did.

My sincerest apologies
To those who feel slighted by my decision,
For that was never my intention.
And please realize
That there are other circumstances,
Circumstances that I cannot type
On to this electronic parchment.
But rest assured,
these important decisions
are always made by yours truly
in and with a discerning Spirit.

God Bless on us on this special Day
(December 12th)!
And God bless the children
who love to sing about the Bethlehem Burro!

The Cluster Monster

I attended
our parish worship commission meeting last night.
There was a bit of tension during the meeting
As we discussed various topics.

But in all honesty,
I created some of that tension
With my brutal honesty.

You see,
I have made some decisions in recent months
In regards to my ministry.
And some of those decisions
Were already out in the open.
Some of those decisions
I had already discussed with the pastor.

But the last decision,
Well, let’s just say
I spilled the beans
at the worship meeting last night.

I won’t detail those decisions
Here on the blog
As those are topics best held in another forum,
Specifically, the parish setting.

But I think it is most appropriate
To share in this blog
One of the “whys” of my decision.
And I think it is appropriate
Because there may be other pastoral musicians
Who now find themselves
In the same situation that I do.

One of the reasons for the decisions I have made
Is greatly influenced
by this monster named “Clustering.”
In all honesty,
I think this is nothing more than semantics,
Nothing more than the ecclesial vocabulary for “Downsizing.”

In my opinion
Clustering is only a stop gap,
Something that will only delay dealing
With the inevitable problem:
The Clergy Shortage.
And in fact,
I believe that we are committing
A sarcedotal genocide
By giving these good men
Two or more parishes,
Which only increases stress levels,
That, in turn,
Leads to all sorts of health issues.

I have more views on clustering,
But I’ll stop with that one.
Whether or not I like it,
The Cluster Monster (see image above)

is visiting our churches.
And, somehow,
We must find a way to deal with it
All the while keeping the faith.

As a pastoral musician,
I find that I must find a way
To remain standing and active in ministry,
Regardless of who gets clustered with whom,
Regardless of which parishes close.

Jeanne Cotter,
Perhaps the greatest and best liturgical pianist
Of our time,
Once said,
“Sing as if your life depended on it.”
And for those who are musicians she said,
“Play as if your life depended on it.”
What wisdom.
For the fact is,
If you are truly a pastoral musician
Those words ring true.

But lately,
It gets harder to sing the song
With all the uncertainty of clustering.

Will the mass I sing for
Still be a part of the parish schedule?

Will the parish I serve in
Remain opened, or will it be closed?

Will I be singing in a different church,
A cluster partner church,
One year from now?

Will I be singing with the same choir
Or a different choir?

Will I be accompanying on the same piano?
An electronic piano?
A pipe organ?
An electronic organ?

Will I be singing from the same hymnal
Or a different hymnal?

Will I be preparing worship aids each week?
Or will I be preparing LCD projected hymns????

From the beginning,
I did not like the clustering process.
But in as much as it is a struggle we share,
I respected the struggle and the processes thereof.
After all, there is growth in struggle.
However, the process has not respected us.

Originally,
St. Helena in Wyandotte was our cluster partner.
The pastor was then assigned to St. Stan’s in Wyandotte
and the cluster shifted.
We lost our original dancing partner.
St. Helena was now to cluster with St. Stan’s
But rather than formally cluster with her new partner,
St. Helena was subsequently closed.
Yes, closed.

In all honesty,
This scared me.
But more on the illogical process of clustering. . .

Our current cluster partners are
St. Francis Xavier in Ecorse
And Our Lady of Lourdes in River Rouge.
However,
that process took a back seat as Fr. Charles
(Pastor, St. Elizabeth in Wyandotte)
is now involved with yet another cluster,
St. Patrick and St. Joseph, both in Wyandotte.
While we have respected the cluster process
With St. Francis and Lourdes
(joint religious ed, pulpit exchanges, parish directory, etc.)
The cluster process is not respecting us.

Five parishes are now dancing together
And least two of them are sharing a partner
(oops, I mean pastor!)

As one employed by the Roman Catholic Church,
I find myself asking the question,
“Where will I be when the process is completed?”
That is a very tough question to answer
When the rules of the game keep changing.

Many in the United States
Are worried about employment,
Have already lost employment,
Are struggling financially.

Serving as Pastoral Musician
Is not only my ministry,
It is my livelihood.
In this sense,
Clustering is a real life issue for me.

My sincerest apologies
To those who may have felt some tension
At last night’s meeting
Because of what I shared.
But I would rather be brutally honest
Than leave folks second guessing
Because that only leads to gossip
And untruths being spread.

And my apologies if my sarcasm offends you.

But I have always likened myself to the cactus,

standing tall, sometimes flowering,

with just enough pointy edges for protection.

(probably an image I picked up in my youth,

being the daughter of mexican immigrants and all. . .)

Anyway, The Fact is that
The Cluster Monster
Is not a fictional character.
He’s real, folks.
And he’s hiding under the pew.
I know.
I’ve been staring him in the face.

I thank God
For the many blessings I have received in my ministry.

And I remain ever grateful to the angel
Who teaches me to be proactive.

St. Cecilia, pray for us.
St. Helena, Pray For Us.
St. Stanilaus Kostka, Pray For Us.
St. Patrick, Pray For Us.
St. Joseph, Pray For Us.
St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Pray For Us.
St. Francis Xavier, Pray For Us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray For Us.

Celebrations en Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe

It is true that this blog entry is a little overdue. The fact of the matter is, I had many photos in my digital camera and I just kept putting off uploading them to my PC and doing the crop and irfanview thing. That’s the thing about digital cameras. One must really be religious about uploading them or you end up with a ton of photos!

These photos are from recent masses in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. I had the great honor of serving as a pastoral musician for both of these celebrations.

The first mass was held in Dec. 11th at St. Alfred parish in Taylor. The procession began and went through St. Alfred school. You know, that school building is a lot larger than she looks from Telegraph Road! The school children had adorned the halls with "Ojo de Dios" and "Papel Cortado," as well as with other fine art work.

We processed through the halls with the parish’s deacon carrying the image of Our Lady. The community sang "Las Apariciones Guadalupnanas" and ended the procession with "Las Manañitas a la Virgen de Guadalupe."

It really was a wonderful celebration with the parish’s newly formed Spanish choir. Kudos to Teresa P. for organizing the choir. Congrats, Tere, on the parish’s newest little Guadalupana!
The second celebration I had the honor of serving for was held on Dec. 12th at Detroit’s Most Holy Trinity Parish. Located in Corktown, this historic church is one of the most beautiful in the City of Detroit. The acoustics are phenomenal. The stations of the cross are huge and beautiful paintings. Trinity houses many lovely statutes, including one of St. Patrick. (This parish is THE place to be for St. Patrick’s Day Mass!)

The organ itself is one of the oldest pipe organs in the city. . . .The couplers on that instrument can offer a challenging touch to those of use who are so accustomed to playing electronic organs! Yes, it’s a beautiful instrument indeed there at Most Holy Trinity!

The Guadalupe celebration at Most Holy Trinity was bilingual. And I must say, Fr. Russ really does have a way with bilingual celebrations as these can challenge even the best of presidors.
The thing is, I prefer a mass that is bilingual. I mean, for those of us who are 2nd and 3rd generation in the States, being bilingual is a very natural state of our being. We’ll flip flop between the 2 languages all the time. I realize that sometimes this can frustrate folks. . .especially when the not so well informed want to repeat everything about mass in the other language. Anyhow, my point is that Fr. Russ really has a handle on celebrating a good bilingual liturgy. The mass in Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a perfectly good example.

The photos above show Our Lady in each of these parishes. The first iImage of Our Lady of Guadalupe is St. Afred parish in Taylor, MI. The other image is at Most Holy Trinity in Detroit, MI.

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