Today I’m pleased to be sharing a conversation with my dear friend and stand-partner in orchestra, Kathleen.  Kathleen is Catholic and I chose her as the inaugural guest because she actually goes to not one but two services each Sunday.  

Kathleen grew up in the Roman Catholic Church. However, when she married the son of displaced native Ukrainians, she began attending the local Ukrainian Catholic services with her husband.  As her mother became elderly, she saw the need to take her mom to the traditional Roman Catholic services, which is when she started attending both masses weekly.  Today, Kathleen’s mother and husband have both passed away.  But Kathleen remains an involved part of both church communities.  

I’d love to share with you what’s motivated her to stay faithful through the years, as well as such topics as the sustaining power of faith through personal tragedy, the Resurrection, the value of confessing sins, and other topics.  

Lyrics for How Can I Keep from Singing:

My Life flows on in Endless Song, above Earth’s Lamentation

I catch the sweet tho far-off hymn that hails a new creation.  

Through all the tumult and the strife, I hear the music ringing

It finds an echo in my soul—how can I keep from singing?

What though my joys and comforts die? The Lord my Saviour liveth;

What tho the darkness gather round? Songs in the night he giveth.

No storm can shake my in most calm While to that refuge clinging;

Since Christ is Lord of Heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?

When tyrants tremble, sick with fear, and hear their death-knell ringing, 

When friends rejoice both far and near, How can I keep from singing? 

In prison cell and dungeon vile, Our thoughts to them go winging;

When friends by shame are undefined, How can I keep from singing? 

I lift my eyes; the cloud grows thin; I see the blue above it;

And day by day this pathway smooths, Since first I learned to love it,

The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart, A fountain ever springing; 

All things are mine since I am his— How can I keep from singing?