Ministry Monday

Today we replay an episode from last summer, featuring Katie Deaver from ONE LICENSE. Katie breaks down the many ways that we can use copyright licensing to our advantage, and helps us realize that reporting our usage supports the composers who wrote the beautiful music we use every week. In more ways than one, copyright licensing is more important than ever.

Choir season is quickly approaching. We know that you’re planning which choir anthems to use, the rehearsal schedule and the plans for each rehearsal, but in this episode, we encourage you to pause and think about the needs of a choir a little bit differently this fall.

Steven Warner is the founder of the Notre Dame Folk Choir and, until recently, worked for the Notre Dame Newman Center for Faith and Reason in Dublin, Ireland. One of Steve’s many gifts lies in his ability to foster true inclusion and listening in his ensembles. Today we focus on the special qualities that elevate ensembleship within a choir, most of which are not actually music.

Today we speak to Timothy Johnston about the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, or the GIRM: what are its origins? How can we navigate this document for our ministries, both as a tool for learning and a liturgical reference?

Stay tuned to NPM’s future programming for more educational support on how to best use the liturgical documents to guide our efforts in pastoral ministry.

For more information about The Essentials of Catholic Liturgy, mentioned in this episode, visit teocl.org.

Many of our listeners are pastoral ministers, whether that’s in music, liturgy, religious education, or other facets of the parish life at large. But today’s focus is religious education. The early days of our faith formation are so critical, and are an absolutely vital part of our Church, its legacy and its future, all at once. Not unlike the needs of other ministries, religious education continues to change and evolve in hopes to meet youth where they are and gain a sense of belonging and presence as they grow into their baptized roles as disciples.  

Today we speak to Holly Mohr, Director of Religious Education at Mary, Queen of Peace Parish. Holly shares the way that religious education has transformed from a solely CCD mentality into the call to encounter Christ as the mission for faith formation. We also speak at length about Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based religious education model growing in the United States today.

Today's Ministry Monday episode features NPM's 2021 Jubilate Deo Award recipient, John Baldovin, SJ. Fr. Baldovin reflects on Pope Francis's new Apostolic Letter on the Liturgy, "Desiderio Desideravi". Fr. Baldovin’s reflections focus on four main points, of which you will hear identified through interlude music:

Was this document expected?

What is the message of Desiderio Desideravi?

Liturgy and Theology of the Church

What does it mean for regular Catholics?

In addition, we’d like to thank the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry for allowing NPM to re-broadcast this reflection.

Today Ministry Monday replays part two its focus on making the most out of the public domain. With music-buying budgets being squeezed tighter than ever, making the public domain work for you can be a huge asset as you spend the summer planning for fall repertoire.

Before we begin, we want to hear some feedback from you, our listeners. This summer Ministry Monday will be focusing on parish mergers and its impact on music ministry. We want to know: are you working at a parish that has recently merged? Or are you about to merge with another parish? Is your diocese undergoing a consolidation?

What were some of the things that best unified your parishes' music programs? Or what advice would you wish you had when you were consolidating a music program?

Email us with your response at [email protected]. As we prepare episodes on this topic, we want to hear from you!

For the next two weeks, Ministry Monday replays two of its most popular episodes, both of which focus on making the most out of the public domain. With music-buying budgets being squeezed tighter than ever, it’s time to get creative! Making the public domain work for you can be a huge asset as you spend the summer planning for fall repertoire.

Today's Ministry Monday episode explores the changes to the Rite of Baptism, which went into effect in spring 2020, during the initial shock of the COVID-19 pandemic. Michael Ruzicki is the Director of Sacred Music and Liturgy at St. Mary of the Lake and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Chicago and is also the Training and Events Manager at Liturgy Training Publications.