“I thought it would be fun to do a retreat where you get to delve into your spirituality, because you can’t sing a song unless you are square with God,” Hart said.
Hart drew from the beatitudes and related them to music ministry. She spoke on the need for meekness and hunger and thirst for righteousness in approaching ministry.
“If we bring the beatitudes into how we minister, our liturgies will be transformed,” Hart said. “Sometimes we don’t understand the effect music is having in the hearts of the people, young and old.”
Kolar focused on the document Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship, produced by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. He related the document to the theme for the day, “Awaken our Voice.”
“Sometimes we are dormant in our ministries and in our faith life,” he said. “We need to wake up.
“This is true for the people in the pews. At the Mass, it is our responsibility to ‘wake up’ our assembly.”
Musician’s Day served as an opportunity to bid farewell to Sister Marilu Covani, SP, Director of Worship for the Diocese for the past 17 years. On hand to take the baton from Sr. Covani was incoming Director of Worship, Sister Jeremy Gallet, SP.
Sr. Gallet thanked Sr. Marilu for her years of service and dedication to the Diocese. Sr. Marilu then formally introduced Sr. Jeremy to the community and wished her well as she begins her ministry in the Office of Worship.
Each year musicians and music ministers are invited to participate in the St. Cecilia Music Fund, a fund established to help support music ministries lacking the necessary resources and equipment in parishes throughout the diocese. This year’s recipient was Our Lady of Hope Parish, San Bernardino.
“Some of the struggle that we found is that we have a limited amount of stuff, like music stands, microphone stands, … It has been a struggle to have one parish set,” said Father Manuel Cardoza, Administrator at Our Lady of Hope, in the appeal video. “Whatever generous donations we receive will bear great fruit.”
An opportunity drawing was held that day to help support the fund. By the end of the day, the music ministers had raised about $650 to support Our Lady of Hope.
Later in the day, cantors participated in a session geared toward forming and enriching the role they play in the Mass. Barbara Keough, Director of Music at The Holy Name of Jesus, Redlands and Dr. Ric Soto, Spanish Choir Director at Christ Cathedral, Garden Grove led the sessions.
The following week, children’s choirs from parishes in the area came to the second annual Children’s Music Day. The day offered children’s choirs, musicians and choir directors with a reflection on the role of the music in the Mass, breakout sessions and activities.