As you might remember from the retreat on the Eucharist we just completed that one of the important aspects of the liturgy of the Eucharist is music. It is not just an optional element but a constitutive element of the whole liturgy. While we have four processional songs (gathering, preparation, communion, and recessional) music is critical throughout the whole of the liturgy to help lift our hearts and spirits to God in worship and praise. Music has the unique ability to pull at our heart strings in ways that words alone cannot do. When the music touches us, we can feel the Holy Spirit draw us deeper in the heart of God. This applies to all music but most especially liturgical music. Some of the greatest liturgical music was written and composed by what we would consider secular musicians of their time.
This weekend, I am delighted to welcome nationally renowned Catholic composer and musician, John Angotti. John will host all liturgical ministers for a morning retreat on Saturday, November 13 (10am-12 p.m.). We invite all members of the community to join us online on YouTube and enjoy his gift of music and theology intertwined to reach every soul. Then, John will play and sing at every Mass this weekend.
The highlight of the weekend will be an Angotti Concert in the Courtyard on Sunday afternoon (2-4 p.m.). He will sing liturgical music as well as music from Billy Joel whom he sounds amazingly close to. We will model this social event after the Fall BBQ and invite everyone to come and bring the whole family. Everyone can bring their own food and wine. John is particularly gifted with working with children and will engage the children in familiar songs and teach them some new ones. It will be a great afternoon and we encourage you to join us for the major community building event. We need another excuse to get together and celebrate who we are!
Finally, I hope you have read the Annual Report from the Finance Council. I am very grateful to all the Finance Council members especially Don McGovern, Chair, who keeps us on track and to Joan Mibach, Pastoral Associate for Administration, who worked tirelessly to get all the data necessary for this report.
As I said in the report, over the last 18 months we have continued to be the community of faith to each other. We come together in every way possible online and in person. Thank you from the bottom of heart for being such a bright light of faith in darkened pandemic times and now let’s spread the light. Please share your gifts with the community in making not only the liturgical “carrot soup” but also the parish “carrot soup.”
If at all possible, please join us in-person at Mass on Sundays and give a gift of your time and talent helping us to reach out to all those who need to feel the love of God now more than ever.
God Bless,
Fr. Brendan