Ministry Monday

It’s summertime, which means that many of us might be traveling, or just have a little bit of free time on our hands. Here at Ministry Monday we are pulling out a book that made a big impact on us: “Dear Joan Chittister”. “Dear Joan Chittister” is a collection of letters to its namesake, Joan Chittister, a Benedictine sister in Erie, Pennsylvania. Joan Chittister is known for her advocacy on women’s rights, peace, human rights and the renewal of the Church.

We spoke to Jessie Bazan, the editor of “Dear Joan Chittister”, in November of 2019 about the book. It was a short but sweet episode, and we think it’s a perfect interview to replay. And if you haven’t added it to your short stack of summer reading, we highly recommend it!  

It goes without saying that we, as pastoral musicians, have experienced a world of change in our ministries in the last year or so. The things that we never second-guessed, such as congregational singing, the incorporation of hymnals and choirs into our liturgies, became health risks. As we hopefully look towards a re-introduction of the elements that we so cherish in ministry, many of us are re-examining how we execute these elements. Do we continue to purchase hymnals in our parish, or do we look for something else? Do we embrace the technological use that many of us depended on during the last year?

This time last year our nation was reeling and grieving the deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and many others who were killed in situations that simply did not justify such violence against the Black community. I spoke with Fr Joseph Brown last summer and he challenged us, as listeners, to keep listening and learning on our journey to work to end racism, in all its private and systemic dimensions.

And now today we feature a replay from the 2020 National Convention in our “Black Lives Matter” series. Today’s replay was one of four sessions at last year’s convention addressing the sin of racism head-on. While this episode is late to celebrating the social progress we’ve made in light of Juneteenth being an official federal holiday, we hope that it reminds us of the work we still have to do in our society to treat each other with kindness, true acceptance and equality.

This month Ministry Monday is offering a 3-part series about Taizé music. We began the series with reflections by David Anderson, Editor-at-Large for GIA Publications and Director of Music and Liturgy at Ascension Catholic Church in Oak Park, Illinois. Last week we featured a conversation Brother John Glasenapp, a Benedictine monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in southern Indiana, about the psychological and historical reasons as to why simple, repeated music including Taizé is so successful.

Today we widen the stage and re-frame the conversation. I spoke with Lauren and Dave Moore this week about the power behind simple refrains repeated consistently over time. You see, Lauren and Dave are the minds behind the Catholic Music Initiative, a sacred music collaboration based in the Dallas area. The Catholic Music Initiative’s goal is to compose beautiful liturgical music; to create a collaborative platform that leavens the heritage of our Faith through the formation of dedicated composers and musicians giving glory to God; and to bring the focus back to Jesus in the Eucharist with nights of Adoration, solid Catholic hymns, and education in our history and Tradition.

Today we consider the likeness between contemporary Catholic (and just Christian) music and Taizé music. How are they similar? Can we embrace the idea of simple music altogether to unify our communities, especially in a time when congregational singing is only just returning to our churches?

Lauren and Dave join me from their home in Dallas, Texas.

This month Ministry Monday is offering a 3-part series about Taizé music. We began the series with reflections by David Anderson, Editor-at-Large for GIA Publications and Director of Music and Liturgy at Ascension Catholic Church in Oak Park, Illinois. If you didn’t listen to that episode, you can tune in later wherever you listen to podcasts, and at ministrymonday.org.

Today's episode features Brother John Glasenapp, a Benedictine monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in southern Indiana, where he currently serves as the Director of the newly-formed Saint Meinrad Institute for Sacred Music.

Last week we set the stage for our conversation by sharing a personal experience about both Taizé itself and the music that stems from it. Today offers a musicological and practical analysis of why Taizé music is so effective to unify a worshipping congregation, and how its historical and global roots are deeper than we may realize.

Today on the episode we stop to honor our Blessed Mother. This episode aired in May 2020 as part of a series called “The Faces of Mary”. This week’s episode from the series focuses on Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, two of the ways we celebrate and honor Mary, our Mother. It is a staff favorite, and we hope you enjoy!

Today on the episode I speak with Fr. James Martin. Fr. Martin is a Jesuit priest, editor at large of America Media, consultor to the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication and author of many books including the topic of today, Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone. Fr. Jim not only discusses the many ways to pray, for those who are just beginning and for those who already feel a deep connection through prayer, but he also addresses the unique challenges and rewards that we, as pastoral musicians, experience. Not only that, he was gracious enough to end the interview with prayer for all who tune in!  

Today I have the privilege of speaking to Kathleen, or Kate, Basi. Author and liturgical composer Kathleen M. Basi is mother to three active boys (read that: always breaking something) and one chromosomally-gifted daughter. She is a fellow pastoral musician and composer as well as an author! Her nonfiction has appeared in a number of magazines, Chicken Soup for the Soul and on NPR’s All Things Considered.

Today Kate was kind enough to sit down and talk about her book, “A Song For the Road”, which was just released last week! Her novel is an honest look at loss and the complexities behind grief and renewal. I myself have finished it and I think it’s an excellent read, especially for pastoral musicians. Keep listening to find out why.

Today's episode honors the many mothers that serve in the Church today. The women of this association lead in their churches, their communities, and their families, in whatever shape that takes. It is a true honor to take this week’s episode and celebrate the women of NPM, and the mothering role that so many of you take. Maybe you are a mother of your own children, or you offer a mothering role to those around you. Maybe you serve the church in religious life. Whatever it is, we so celebrate you today for Mother’s Day, and we thank you for the presence of Christ that you bring to all of us every day.

Today on the podcast I speak with Meredith Augustin and Lorraine Hess.

Meredith Augustin is the Director of Music at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in midtown Manhattan.  Meredith is also collaborated with musicians all over the world and has released four solo records, appealing to fans of all genres, particularly jazz, world, and Christian music, and most importantly, the mother of two.

Lorraine Hess is a Catholic singer, songwriter, music minister, and recording artist born and raised in New Orleans. She currently directs music ministry at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, has released six solo albums of liturgical and sacred music, and the mother of four sons.

Meredith Augustin and Lorraine Hess join us today and discuss the challenges of ministry and motherhood in the last year: from musically-restricted liturgies to children staying home for school, balancing ministry and motherhood held unique and beautiful challenges.