June 25, 2018

#019: Should We? - or - How Can We Not? (with Rory Cooney)

June 25, 2018

I am willing to wager that all of us engaged in pastoral ministry would consider ourselves to be disciples – believers of the Good News, followers of Christ. I’m also willing to wager that, just like the first disciples, we are imperfect – sometime stumbling, sometimes second-guessing, sometimes fearful and unsure.

Ministry is never easy, and it is made all the more difficult in challenging times like these. We are called to accompany those to whom we minister as we all traverse the rocky road of politics, of interpersonal relationships, of messy life events, and more. We are called to help make sense of what all seems, at times, to be senseless. We are called to express the Truth with love and honesty.

In today’s episode, we discuss how to think about the ways we can – or should – acknowledge and respond to the issues happening in our nation and our world. It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, as we’ve seen news stories and social media commentary about immigration policy and strategy, especially on our southern border. To help frame these issues, we’ll hear from Rory Cooney. I have long admired Rory for his beautiful compositions and profound texts. More so, I marvel at Rory’s ability to speak so well about how the Gospel meets real life. Today, he will share some of his wisdom, his study, and his experience.

SHOW NOTES

For more information about Rory Cooney and his other compositions, visit his composer pages at GIA Publications, OCP, and WLP. Also, be sure to check out his blog, "Gentle Reign". You can access the full text of the blog post quoted in the episodes Ministry Monday here.

The recordings of "A Place Called Home" and "Give Us Peace" were produced by GIA Publications.

Visit NPM's digital resource library, referenced at the end of the episode.

To join us this summer at the national convention in Baltimore, Maryland, visit the 2018 NPM convention website.

All content of this podcast is property of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians or its content suppliers and is protected by United States and international copyright laws. For information about the podcast and its use, please contact us.

June 17, 2018

#018: Drinking God Straight, Part II (with Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB)

June 17, 2018

Today’s episode is a continuation of an earlier episode of Ministry Monday. Way back in our sixth episode, we featured an audio program produced by Saint Meinrad’s Seminary titled, “Drinking God Straight.” This program explored the evolution and status of English language chant following the Second Vatican Council, giving particular focus to the work of Fr. Columba Kelly.

Sadly, Fr. Columba passed away earlier this month. We are celebrating his life today, not by giving extended commemorations or reflections, but by doing what he would have preferred - exploring the importance of chant in our liturgical celebrations. So, today we are brining you “Drinking God Straight, Part II.” If you haven’t listened to Episode Six yet, I’d encourage you to go back and give it a listen. There, you’ll hear from Fr. Columba himself.

To continue the conversation, our guest is Fr. Anthony Ruff. A Benedictine monk of Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota, Fr. Anthony - like Fr. Columba - is a fierce advocate for chant in the liturgy. Today, we’ll examine the misconceptions about chant, the richness that it contains, pastoral advice for implementation, and mistakes to be avoided. Whether you think you like chant, or not, or if you think your community will sing chant, or not, today is an important conversation to help expand your understanding and challenge your reservations.

SHOW NOTES

For more information about Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB, visit his author page at PrayTell Blog.

For more information about the life and work of Fr. Columba Kelly, OSB, visit his biography page at Saint Meinrad's Archabbey.

To order a copy of "Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship," visit the USCCB website.

Visit NPM's digital resource library, referenced at the end of the episode.

To join us this summer at the national convention in Baltimore, Maryland, visit the 2018 NPM convention website.

June 11, 2018

#017: Union of Voices, Unity of Hearts (with Dr. Tony Alonso)

June 11, 2018

We are entering the busiest time of year here at Ministry Monday. We are making final preparations for two national conferences, both taking place in just a few weeks. So, today we are again dipping into our archives. This time, we’ll hear from Dr. Tony Alonso. I have to say, this is one of the best, most honest, and authentic plenum addresses I’ve heard. Tony speaks about issues that face those of us who work in pastoral ministry, directly addressing the conflict, competing vision, and sometimes contentious attitudes that can impede our unity.

Recorded at the fortieth NPM national convention in 2017, you will hear Tony speak about the obstacles and opportunities toward expressing the fullness of who we are as a Church musically and theologically, and Pope Francis’ image of the Church as “field hospital” as a metaphor for how our work might serve better as a medicine of unity rather than as a weapon of division.

SHOW NOTES

For more information about Dr. Tony Alonso and his other compositions, visit his composer pages at GIA Publications and World Library Publications. You can also visit his website: www.tonyalonso.com.

To learn more about the Summer Ministry Colloquium, to be held on June 30, visit the One Call Institute website. You can see a listing of the team, breakout topics, and register to attend. Don't miss it!

The recordings of "How Firm A Foundation" and "Give Us Peace" were produced by GIA Publications.

Visit NPM's digital resource library, referenced at the end of the episode.

To join us this summer at the national convention in Baltimore, Maryland, visit the 2018 NPM convention website.