Weekly Columns
Musical Musings from Joy
One of my greatest joys over the two years I served in Wexford was producing fully-staged, musical plays based on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I inherited the project from an alumna of House of Brigid, (who happened to be a music, theatre, AND French classmate of mine at Saint Mary’s!), and […]
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Operation Hometown Gratitude
Operation Hometown Gratitude was a great success with 94 boxes packed, $882 collected for mailing, and about seventy people participating on Sunday. We were grateful and excited about the wide range of parish and community involvement including a generous monetary donation and items from the Rochester Exchange Club, home baked cookies from our Bakers Ministry, […]
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Weekly Words from The Rock
As we celebrate First Holy Communion at all the Masses this weekend, I thought I would devote this column to the Sacrament of the Eucharist. The following reflections are taken from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, Copyright 2006. Question: What happens at the consecration in the Mass? Answer: By the consecration, the transubstantiation […]
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Musical Musings from Joy
Firstly, hearty congratulations to all of those who received the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Communion this weekend. I cannot wait to share more fully in the faith and the Table with so many of you. A special shout out to those First Communicants who are also members of the Children’s Choir! (I hope you […]
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Liturgy Notes from Joann
Christ is risen! The following is a reflection for this Sunday from the book Living Liturgy, published by Liturgical Press in Collegeville, Minnesota. Being witnesses for one another: We know well that to be disciples means that we are to be witnesses for Christ. Yet we are also called to be witnesses for one another, […]
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Weekly Words from The Rock
As we prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation next Saturday, I thought I would devote a section of this column to the Sacrament of Confirmation. The following reflections are taken from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, Copyright 2006. Question: Who may receive Confirmation? Answer: Every baptized person not yet confirmed can and should […]
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Musical Musings from Joy
I took some time to travel to Europe after Easter, and was blessed to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday in St. Mark’s Basilica. The current Byzantine-style structure has been in place since the 11th century. For those of you who may not know, (I certainly didn’t before this trip,) the tomb of St. Mark the Evangelist […]
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Liturgy Notes from Joann
Christ is risen! Have you seen the new Paschal candle? The candle is from Marklin Candle and the design is called LAUDATO which is Latin for “Praised be.” “LAUDATO SI’, mi’ Signore” – “Praise be to you, my Lord” are the first words of each strophe of the Canticle of Saint Francis: Praised be You, my […]
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Liturgy Notes from Joann
CHRIST IS RISEN! The Sundays of the Easter season are a continuation of Easter Sunday. Forty days of fasting have given rise to fifty days of feasting! One way to keep the celebration alive in the weeks to come is to practice mystagogy. Mystagogy is a prayerful breaking open of the Easter mysteries, especially focusing […]
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Musical Musings from Joy
The National Association for Pastoral Musicians (NPM) has a special place in my heart. As the top professional organization in my field, there are countless opportunities for networking, enhancing one’s spiritual life, and honing one’s craft amongst other like-minded individuals. I have been blessed to be awarded two scholarships by NPM that aided in my […]
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