I once had a cantor who recently had a baby. She wanted to minister quickly after her child was born, but balancing two children with varying work schedules was a constant challenge for her. I told her that we would welcome her back as a minister in any way that her schedule would allow.  

One morning, her husband had an unexpected work commitment, so she brought her toddler and infant with her to church. They were both incredibly well-behaved until the preparation of the gifts, but this didn’t stop my cantor. With her toddler next to her leg and her infant on her hip, she sang “How Great Thou Art”. She looked at her infant as she sang, “O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the works Thy hands have made….” There was not a dry eye in the house. She ministered to all of us in multiple ways that day, and she reminded me of the power of lay leadership.

You know, we are so quick to cling to the role of the clergy, I think we often forget the presence of God that lives within us and flows through us as we minister.

And that is the conversation we’re having today. I sat down with Brother Louis Canter to discuss the importance of Lay Ecclesial ministry, a term that is either fresh or incredibly well-worn in your local diocesan vocabulary. Brother Louis believes that the key to the church’s future lies within the lay ministers who serve the church with their time, talent and treasures, big and small:

Today on the podcast we feature the leadership team of the Jefferson City, Missouri, chapter. They are NPM's 2025 Chapter of the year! We discuss the ways the chapter has increased their membership, cultivated consistent programming, and some of the most important relationships that have strengthened the chapter.

There are so many ways to involve a parish community in its music ministry, and not all of them, of course, include singing. Haven’t we all heard the parishioner who says, “I can’t join the music ministry - I can’t sing!” Luckily for us, music ministry today can include instrumental assistance, including a handbell choir.

In many instances, handbell choirs were the only choirs allowed in a parish setting during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a choir setting that can be accomplished without projecting the human voice. It can also be done with plenty of social distancing, if space allows. And more than anything, it provides the community of a choir without singing- a perfect option for those who want to use their musical gifts without singing.

Handbell choirs are a great option in a music ministry program, but some music ministers may not know where to start: how can I afford handbells? Who do I purchase them from? How do I teach (and direct) a handbell choir? These questions and many more are addressed in my conversation today.

Donna Kinsey has served for over 50 years as the pastoral musician for St. Francis De Sales Parish. She has taught music for public and Catholic schools in both Morgantown, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. She is also a handbell clinician and has spearheaded the National Catholic Handbell Festivals with the National Association of Pastoral Musicians.

This episode is truly a primer on starting a handbell choir. Not only that, Donna has provided a handout in the “show notes” of this episode for additional tips. If you’ve ever considered starting a handbell choir, this is the episode for you.

In this episode of Ministry Monday we speak to Jennifer Kluge, Executive Director of NPM. Jennifer shares takeaways from all 5 locations of NPM On the Road this summer, the financial impact from the events, and what to expect at the 2026 National Convention next summer in Washington, DC.

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For more information about the 2026 Convention, click here.

All content of this podcast is property of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians or its content suppliers and is protected by United States and international copyright laws. For information about the podcast and its use, please contact us.

This episode of Ministry Monday is brought to you by Reverend J. Ronald Knott from Louisville, KY.

Fr. Knott has written 40 books including his homily series called An Encouraging Word, books for clergy and books on spirituality. He has taught at seminaries and lectured all over the world on topics such as how to develop a united parish staff and how to grow successful parishes.   

Consider beginning your Fall Ordinary Time with your parish team by reading "THE SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP OF A PRIEST", available on amazon in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Visit www.ronknottbooks.com for more information.

Today’s episode features Peter Kolar, Editor for Spanish and Bilingual Resources at GIA Publications. Peter shares both liturgical and personal viewpoints for the Quinceañera celebration: how is it implemented in both a sacred and secular context? What music best supports a quinceañera? and more.

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Bio: Peter Kolar

Peter Kolar is a bilingual composer of Salvadoran-Polish heritage who has contributed much to the liturgical music landscape of the U.S. Named NPM’s 2022 Pastoral Musician of the Year, his numerous works reflect a fluency in classical, folkloric and pop idioms. Peter holds the position of Editor for Spanish and Bilingual Resources at GIA Publications, Inc., and was the founding editor of the bilingual missalette “Celebremos/Let Us Celebrate.” His compositions include the Mass settings “Misa Luna” and “Mass of the Sun of Justice,” both winners of ACP’s Distinguished Mass Setting Award, and a solo piano CD titled “Variations.” A respected clinician, Peter presents frequently in the area of multicultural worship and was a consultant to the USCCB on the chants of the U.S. Misal Romano, tercera edición. In 2024, he received the SWLC's Mary Frances Reza Award for outstanding musical contribution to the Hispanic Church. Peter holds a Masters degree in music composition from Northwestern University and resides in El Paso, TX, where he directs the El Paso Diocesan Choir.

All content of this podcast is property of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians or its content suppliers and is protected by United States and international copyright laws. For information about the podcast and its use, please contact us.

The musical world (both in music education, technology, and music ministry) has been adjusting to the reality of a world without Finale. It’s been a guiding post in music notation software for many musicians. It’s the software I learned on in music school. But sadly, after announcing last year that MakeMusic (Finale’s parent company) would no longer support new software updates, it was time to begin shopping for another option.

Today’s episode of Ministry Monday features the prelude to a 4-part series on music notation software that NPM offered in the spring of 2024. While we invite you to watch all sessions if you’re an NPM member (as it is a membership benefit), we offer a segment of the first episode which featured a discussion on copyright licensing within the paradigm of music notation software. To put it bluntly, we ask: are we allowed to re-engrave on music notation software, for the sake of a unified worship aid? If so, how do we report? And many more questions.

For more information on Dorico, a music notation software which has become the frontrunner for Finale’s replacement, check out the article written by Tony Ward in the July edition of Pastoral Music magazine. It’s a resource that’s yet another benefit of an NPM membership. (Have I sold you on renewing your membership yet?)

This week's episode of Ministry Monday features composer and NPM member Luke Rosen. In this replay episode from October 2023, Luke shares his reflections on the many things a pastoral musician can consider as they compose music, whether it's for a parish music ministry or just for personal enjoyment.

Today on Ministry Monday we speak with Kathleen Pluth, hymn text author and translator whose work frequently appears in the prayer guide Magnificat, GIA Publications, and CanticaNova. Her hymn text, "Let the Earth Acclaim Christ Jesus," was chosen as the official hymn for the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress. She also wrote a hymn titled, "Hymn for the Soul of a Pope", which she offered for free during the month of May as many parishes honored the life of Pope Francis. Today Kathleen and I talk about all things hymnody: What is "hymnody"? Are there guiding documents that help us to discern the considerations of hymnody? And more.

Wedding season is well upon us, and with it always comes with a story. Many of you may already know that prior to working full-time for NPM, I was a full-time DIrector of Music at a Catholic church, which was set in a very beautiful, very visible, and also very tourist-laden area of my city. For 13 years I played 60-70 weddings annually, half of which were non-parishioners. The experiences came with a sense of excitement and joy…but also a time for catechesis for the bride and groom. We’ve probably all had the couple who needed a bit more clarification on why their favorite secular tune cannot be a part of the music at their Catholic wedding, and honestly, I’m sure we could compile our best wedding stories into a book! (I’ve heard it said, “I could write a book” many times…)

I’ve often heard a dreadful saying by pastoral musicians that “I’d rather play three funerals versus one wedding.” While this has always bothered me, I think the roots lie in a mutual misunderstanding of young couples being married, and the pastoral musicians who serve them. The beauty of the Sacrament of Marriage can often be eclipsed by the secular aesthetic that couples mostly worry about, from the flowers to the bridal party to, of course, the bride and groom’s ensembles. But just because a couple may not fully grasp the Sacrament does not mean that they cannot enter into a paradigm of catechesis prior to their wedding day. And in fact, I think we shortchange many couples by assuming they do not grasp a general understanding of the liturgy and how it will relate to their wedding. Why not take it as an opportunity to bridge that gap of understanding, even if only to help them more deeply understand their wedding?

Today on Ministry Monday we speak to Paul Radkowski, Director of Music at the Church of St. Edward the Confessor in Granville, Ohio. Paul discusses the ways that pastoral musicians can support couples as they prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage: how can they best plan their ceremony music? what if a loved one wants to sing in the wedding? What if the couple wants to include secular music in the wedding? Paul addresses these questions and more.

This episode of Ministry Monday is brought to you by Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry (CSTM). Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry (CSTM) is accepting applications for Courage to Preach: A Post-Master’s Certificate. Courage to Preach trains participants to read and interpret Scripture and use it as a foundational collection to preach on contemporary issues, such as racial, economic, and environmental justice. The certificate is completed over 12 months. Learn more at bc.edu/preach.

NPM is blessed with a rich community of Asian/Pacific American pastoral musicians that support their parishes and the NPM community at large. Ariel Mayormita, Jose Gallardo and Maria Nieva are all pastoral musicians across the United States. They each demonstrate hospitality, kindness, and a deep Catholic faith in their lives. Today's episode highlights the deep faith and profound hospitality found in AAPI culture, from 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines to today. Our presenters to reflect on this topic today are Ariel Mayormita, Jose Gallardo and Maria Nieva, joining us from New Jersey, Texas, and the Philippines!

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For more resources celebrating AAPI Heritage Month, visit npm.org.

All content of this podcast is property of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians or its content suppliers and is protected by United States and international copyright laws. For information about the podcast and its use, please contact us.