Ministry Monday

Today on the podcast I have the pleasure of speaking to Dr. Mickey Thomas Terry. Dr. Terry is a lecturer at Howard University in Washington, D.C. and Dr. Terry has also taught on the faculty of Georgetown University in Washington, DC. He is also Director of Music at Epiphany Catholic Church in Georgetown. He is the recipient of the 2020-2021 Artist Fellowship awarded by the District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities. A current biographical sketch of Dr. Terry also appears in Who’s Who in America. Dr. Terry is the editor of a critically-acclaimed multi-volume (currently 8 vols) African-American Organ Music Anthology published by MorningStar Music Publishers (St. Louis, Missouri). I met Dr. Terry in 2011 in a masterclass as I played from the African-American Organ Music Anthology. He was kind enough to discuss the Organ Music Anthology, as well as the struggles of African-American Organ composers and African-American classical composers.

Today on the podcast we sit down with new NPM Executive Director Jennifer Kluge. Jennifer has been the Executive Director since early January of this year, coming to the job from her previous position as the Chief of Staff for the Office of the Dean of Research at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Today Jennifer was kind enough to sit down and discuss the vision she has for the association. She was also willing to participate in a Q&A session so we, as members, can get to know her a little more.

PART 2 OF 2:

This week on Ministry Monday we explore the world of the public domain. Where does one start? How can we use it for music ministry, especially as our budgets are reduced due to COVID-19?

If you've never tried using the public domain, or are a seasoned user of the free online resource, this episode is for you.

This week on Ministry Monday we explore the world of the public domain. Where does one start? How can we use it for music ministry, especially as our budgets are reduced due to COVID-19?

If you've never tried using the public domain, or are a seasoned user of the free online resource, this episode is for you.

Ministry Monday's most popular interview of 2020 was in the height of a country groaning in grief at the loss of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Brianna Taylor, just to name a few. Fr. Joseph Brown, Plenum Address speaker at the 2020 National Convention, sat with our listeners and Fr. Brown begins the conversation by reflecting on the uprising across the country- and the world- to support the Black community and take action towards anti-racist policies and real social change. And today, serendipitously on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, as we replay this episode, we are still listening, and we are still learning.

On today's episode of Ministry Monday, Fr. Paul Turner discusses the unique needs of the upcoming Ordinary Time and Lenten seasons. From ashes to throat blessings, palms to prayers, Fr. Paul shares his reflections in the months ahead.

Today on the podcast we speak to Brother Louis Canter about Lay Ecclesial Ministry. Why is it so important to the future of the Church, and how can we foster its growth?

Today’s episode comes from the November 2018 edition of NPM’s Pastoral Music magazine. The article “Spiritual Resolutions for a New Liturgical Year” was written by Margaret Felice. Now, full disclosure: keep in mind that this article was written at a time when masks were not required, “physical distancing” was not a phrase one heard each day, and public singing was more than welcomed in our sacred spaces. While I understand that all of these things our temporary in our society, it bears mentioning, as Margaret refers to singing during this article. We can’t endorse public singing with others just yet, but we hope the sentiment and core of Margaret’s message still sound true in your heart during these last few days of Advent.

The topic of self-care is an elusive one for pastoral musicians, as our calling is to serve others. It is a charism that extends to all that we do in ministry. We sacrifice our weekends, our holidays, our days off to play an unexpected funeral of someone we so value in our parish, and so on. I know that many of us are happy to do it because, again, we are pastoral ministers! But what are the unique needs for us, as ministers, in 2020? How does “taking care of ourselves” look like this year?

Today on the podcast we speak with Holly Mohr, Director of Religious Education for the South Side/Mount Washington Parish Community in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Holly has the gift of seeing the sacred in the chaos which we all need during this pandemic year. If you’re feeling even a bit of uncertainty in your ministry or just in life this Advent season, this episode is for you.