#098: Following our Baptismal Calling (with Mary Birmingham)

Today we hear from Mary Birmingham, a minister and speaker on catechesis. Mary brings her passion for the liturgy and the Rite of Christian Initiation and its power to transform hearts to this work of evangelization hoping it will assist catechists in their remarkable conversion centered ministries.

Today we talk about our individual baptismal call, especially in the midst of our self-isolating reality. In this particular holiest of weeks, Mary’s insights fortified me for the week ahead. We hope it helps you too.

#097: Deaf Culture & Music Ministry (Part 2 of 2) (with Karen Shepherd)

Last week we interviewed Fr. Walt Rydzon, a retired priest from the Diocese of Pittsburgh who ministered to both hearing and deaf communities for his priesthood. If you haven’t listened to it, we encourage you to. This week we take the conversation one step further and talk about deaf ministry and music ministry working on a week-by-week basis together. We speak to Karen Shepherd, Director of the Deaf Choir at Saint Mary of the Mount Parish, the official home for the deaf community in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Karen has been the director of the deaf choir for almost 20 years.

Karen explores what is a deaf choir, as well as the subtleties of an “interpreted” Mass versus a “signed” Mass. Karen also spearheaded the installation of a “hearing loop” system in her church and shares what we need to know, as pastoral musicians, should we ever want to install one in our own churches.

#096: Deaf Culture & Music Ministry (Part 1 of 2) (with Fr. Walt Rydzon)

The next two weeks of the podcast will discuss deaf culture & music ministry from a clergy member who devoted most of his priesthood to being their advocate, and a woman who is a “deaf choir” director, and yes, that’s a very real thing. This two-part series will help us, as a hearing people, explore the context of a deaf person, and see the ways they “hear” and experience music, which yes, they do!

This week we begin by speaking to a priest who dedicated his priesthood to both a hearing and deaf community. We hear how he started in this ministry, and what we need to know about deaf culture, as a hearing people.