🎧 Episode Title: Called to Sing

Guest: Dr. John Flaherty – Director of Liturgy and Music, Loyola Marymount University
Episode: Special Feature for the LMU/CALLED Music Minister Retreat

In this heart-opening episode, Dr. John Flaherty reflects on a lifetime of sacred music, multicultural liturgical service, and the transformative power of voice. From acting as special assistant to the Vice President of LMU, directing choirs and events at Loyola Marymount University to guiding future ministers through the CALLED initiative, John shares his journey as a musical bridge between diverse communities, Catholic tradition, and deeply personal faith expression.

🎶 Themes & Highlights

• Singing as Sacred Vocation
  John’s early calling to music ministry began as a young boy in parochial school and continues as a deep form of embodied prayer.
• Multicultural Liturgical Music
  A leader in developing and directing culturally rich liturgies at LMU, John emphasizes music’s power to unite people of diverse backgrounds through rhythm, melody, and shared prayer.
• Formation Through Beauty
  Liturgical music isn’t performance—it’s formation. John challenges listeners to reflect on how song and ritual shape the inner life of faith.
• The CALLED Initiative
  John reflects on his role as a CALLED cohort guide, emphasizing that every person—regardless of title—is called to participate in the evangelizing mission of the Church. Singing is just one expression of that call.
• Mary, Imagination, and the Heart
  Echoing themes from Marian theology, John shares how music engages the full self—imagination, memory, intellect—and leads us deeper into the mystery of God.
• The Role of Silence and Listening
  Silence between notes. Stillness before song. These too are parts of liturgy, forming space for God to speak and hearts to awaken.

📚 Resources & Mentions

• Loyola Marymount University (LMU)
  Learn more about LMU's programs in liturgy, theology, and music: https://www.lmu.edu

• CALLED Retreats and Formation Cohorts
  Explore how to join a cohort, attend a retreat, or deepen your own faith through storytelling and formation:
  👉 https://www.preachingjourney.com

• Multicultural Liturgical Music
  While not mentioned explicitly, John's work aligns with that of composers and scholars like:
  • Jaime Cortez
  • Tony Alonso
  • Marty Haugen
  • Mary Louise Bringle

• Psalms and Sacred Song
  John often returns to the Psalms in his ministry: “I will sing to the Lord all my life” (Psalm 104:33)

🕊️ Quote Highlights

“There is a singing in us that is deeper than performance—it's prayer with breath.” — John Flaherty

“Liturgical music is how we form hearts. And it starts with listening.”— John Flaherty

“The first evangelists weren’t professionals. They were people who had encountered Christ and couldn’t help but share it.”— John Flaherty

🔗 Stay Connected

🌐 Discover the CALLED Initiative
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👉 https://www.preachingjourney.com

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