This photo represents one of the highlights of my life as a pastoral musician. This photo was taken in the music area of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. The women's choir I co-direct with my friend, Marcy, was invited to sing for a mass on the Feast of the Assumption. This photo was taken by a Basilica Photographer on August 15, 2002 I visit Mexico nearly every year and will be returning to visit Her at the Basilica later on this very month. My prayers this year will include prayers of thanksgiving for a wonderful ministry, and prayers for Janie (3rd from the left in the 2nd row) who has gone on to eternal life. This women's choir, El Cántico de la Mujer Latina, was originally formed for a one-time event for the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. I received a phone call from Fr. Vigil Funk late summer or early fall of 1997, who asked, "Rubi, NPM is coming to Grand Rapids. Can you do something Hispanic?" I told him I would think about it and call him back.
I spoke with my lady friends from the choir. And then I returned a call to Fr. Virgil and told him that I wanted to do an afternoon of praise using music, poetry, and theology all written by and performed by Latinas. The group received one of the highest evaluations at the NPM held in July of 1998, as well as invitations to North Park University in Chicago; to the Southwest Liturgical Conference in Albuquerque; to U of D/Mercy in Detroit. . . . . and we've been receiving invitations to sing for women's retreats, conferences, concerts, religious professions and countless other events ever since!!!! OK! This blog entry has been longer than some of the others in this "30 years in Music" blog. But I am particularly proud of the work this group of women have done and I am honored that they have remained close friends companions on the faith journey.
Although our membership has changed somewhat over the years, you'll get to meet them all. "Where?" you ask. . .
At the Choir Festival where I will be celebrating 30 Years In The Music Ministry!!!
Saturday, Oct. 27th.
The event starts at noon and will take place
at St. Andre Bessette Parish (formally, St. Francis Xavier). 4250 W. Jefferson Ecorse, MI 48192
There will be no charge for this event but a freewill offering will be accepted to help defray the cost of hosting this event.
“The Lord is Risen to Life. The Lord is Risen to life. . .”
I’ve been singing this song a lot these past few days. It’s an older song and I don’t even remember who wrote it. I couldn’t even remember all of the verses, so I looked it up on youtube hoping I would find it. And sure enough, I did!
But this song is just on my mind. . . .
Anyone who knows me well knows that I often cite a statistic. I remember the statistic very well, though I can’t remember who said it or where it came from, who did the study to get said info.
Once upon a time, a very long time ago, I was a pastoral musician newbie. My pastor at the time sent me to an NPM conference (National Association of Pastoral Musicians). One of the speakers at that event gave the following statistic: “Eighty percent of people who sing in choirs as adults sang in a choir as a child.”
I was floored. That lone little statement was probably the only real, tangible thing I took home from that conference and I can’t even remember who said it. Since then, I have tried to make working with children a top priority.
But what does this have to do with the song “The Lord Is Risen to Life???”
I am living proof of that statistic. I sang in the choir, the children’s choir more specifically, at St. Francis Xavier Parish. When I was in the sixth grade, the music director at the time even let me play the organ. What song did I play? “The Lord is Risen to life. The Lord is Risen to life. The Lord has conquered sin and death. .. .”
And so, I'm organizing a choir festival to celebrate my 30 years in the music ministry. But the fact of the matter is, the seed was planted many years before that, many years before I officially became a pastoral musician, choir director, parish music director.
And, if I am perfectly honest with myself, the seed was planted long before that sixth grader sat behind the organ. You see, in order to be able to sit behind that organ numerous music lessons had to take place. Yeah, we never know when that little seed is being planted.
“Eighty percent of people who sing in choirs as adults sang in a choir as a child.”
.. .and one of those children might just end up as your parish music director!
I don't know the people in this video. I just looked it up on youtube. But, nonetheless, this is the actual song a sixth grader got to play on the church organ a very long time ago!!!
