#095 (Special Episode): Ministry in Isolation: Ministry in Light of COVID-19

Today’s episode hopes to give you some insight into the thoughts and hearts of pastoral musicians across the country right now. We’ll hear from different Dioceses, from publishers and copyright licensing companies, and lastly, we’ll hear from our NPM president, Steve Petrunak.

This is a hefty, much longer episode than usual because we wanted to make it chock full of stories, perspectives, and practical tips for you to apply in your music ministry. And besides, we all have plenty of time right now anyway, so sit back, relax and listen to our special episode ahead.

Note: please keep in mind that all interviews were recorded on Tuesday, March 17. From the time I interviewed two of my participants to the time I went to script this episode, their Dioceses changed from allowing Masses, to suspending Masses indefinitely.

#094: "Come and Walk Among Us": The Catholic Church in Ireland (with Steven C. Warner)

Today we speak to Steven C. Warner, Associate Director for the Notre Dame Newman Center for Faith and Reason (Dublin, Ireland). We discuss the Catholic Church in Ireland today, especially on the cusp of the feast of St. Patrick. Not only that, Steve was gracious enough to provide two unreleased songs from his upcoming album, “Easter in Ireland”. Today’s episode will feature the world premieres of these two songs! We’ll play them both in their entirety, and for this reason, the episode will be a bit longer than the 20-minute episodes we’ve been doing lately. We think that it’s well worth it. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week’s episode of song and reflection.

#093: "Composing for the Singing Church": Composers' Interest Section (with Tom Kendzia)

Today on the podcast we hear from Tom Kendzia, composer and chair of the Composers Interest Section. Tom is a liturgical musician whose music has been published since 1980. In 2020, he celebrates the 40th anniversary of the release of his first collection, “Light of the World.” Tom participated in the first NPM Convention in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and the first NPM Composers’ Forum Competition a year later. After 40 years of composing, Tom continues to write and publish his music, while also being the Chair of the Composers Interest Section at NPM…and, of course, still ministering to his church community of 35 years.