It’s that time again!  As we move into August, we hear more and more the commonly-spoken phrase: “The summer is just whizzing by!”

     While adults are starting to think about colder weather in the fall and winter months ahead, many of us are making plans already for the coming programs and activities for the year.  You have heard about the start of our RCIA program, Sunday morning education classes, or other church activities.  It is no different with planning ahead for the parish music program.

     It’s not too early for the Pastoral Associate for Music to be thinking about Advent and Christmas music.  Even the Catholic music publishers have been advertising their wares for the last several weeks.

     Each new choir year sees the shifting of personnel as people’s lives change with job opportunities, new careers, college admissions, or retirement.  We were fortunate these past few years to have the talents of three choir members who will move on to greater things this fall.  One person will enroll at Loyola University Chicago, another will be retiring to a different city to be near family, and a third person has answered the call from God to enter the Jesuits.

     Because of the loss of these members, I am making my yearly plea a bit early.  Please consider singing in the choir.  But, I ask this in the context of the loss of three choir members.  We have been very fortunate over the years to have the participation of many good singers in our music program.  And, we have been blessed with good numbers of men—something that many parish choirs find lacking. 

    But, we desperately need more women this year!  Let me say that again, we DESPERATELY need more women in our choir.  Whenever the parish puts out a plea for volunteers to help clean the church or bring food, the advertisement usually ends with the phrase: “many hands lighten the load.”  The same could be said for singing as well.  We welcome anyone (male or female) to the choir who is willing to devote several hours on Sunday mornings to rehearsing and singing for 10:30 AM Mass.  Music reading skills are not a necessity.  

     I’ve touted in previous posts the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of singing with a group.  While those benefits are still evident for each and every singer, the fact remains:  We need you.  I know that you are out there!  So, please prayerfully consider helping us out as we begin choir in full in September.

     If you would like to join our choir, please email Mark Bailey at mbailey@stxchurch.org or stop by the choir loft following Mass and introduce yourself.  

− Dr. Mark Bailey, Pastoral Associate for Music – Organist