In honor of Black Catholic History Month, today’s episode features Sister Thea Bowman as she addressed the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1989, less than one year from her death due to breast cancer. Sister Thea’s powerful word and song echoed in the minds of those who were gathered that day, and those who still listen, as she asks: “What does it mean to be Black in the Church and in society today?”

This episode of Ministry Monday is brought to you by Loyola Press. Loyola Press is proud to announce the arrival of the new book Spiritual Practices for the Brain. Written by Anne Kertz Kernion, founder of Cards by Anne, this book is grounded in neuroscience, theology, and mindfulness practice to provide powerful, positive results for mind, body, and soul. Visit store.loyolapress.com to order your copy today.

As pastoral musicians who spend countless hours in God’s house, facilitating prayer for others, how can we deepen our prayer experience? How do we discern the time needed for our own prayer practice, apart from the ministry we offer to others?

Today on the podcast we discuss the Liturgy of the Hours and Eucharistic Adoration, two experiences of prayer that help us to encounter Christ in deeper ways.

Today I have the privilege to speak to two pastoral musicians who also compose music for the Church. They both share stories of the Spirit guiding their compositions and their time in ministry, especially through the lens of motherhood and women working for the Church. But the message ahead is clear: we, as women, use our unique experiences to support the Church and allow the guide the Spirit to flow through us. But I hope that we can honor the uniqueness we offer without putting our service in a category of “female musician”. Or “women in music.”