This week’s episode was sponsored by Simply Liturgical Music. Click the show notes to learn more and to access an exclusive offer just for Ministry Monday listeners!

Today’s episode is more NPM-focused than a typical episode, but for all the right reasons: NPM’s annual Members’ Meeting is next Monday, September 20. The annual Members’ Meeting is NPM’s State of the Union, if you will, celebrating the wins of the association from the last 12 months, including celebrating NPM’s biggest awards: the Pastoral Musician of the Year Award and Jubilate Deo award.

I asked to sit down with Jennifer Kluge, NPM’s Executive Director and my boss. I wanted to hear about her first year so far as Executive Director, including her first NPM convention. She was kind enough to oblige.

At this point it goes without saying, but the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to re-envision so much of what we do in ministry. While many of us are re-starting choirs to an extent and returning to the planning of normal music ministry life, the disruption of our normal habits and resources may allow a space to evaluate what our parish needs right now and for the next stage of ministry.

This was the mindset from which I started our episode today.

Last Thursday we celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Częstochowa, a venerated icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary found in the Polish town after which it was named. We thought it would be a perfect time to replay a previous episode that honored Our Lady of Częstochowa and the devotion to our Blessed Mother.

We hope you enjoy this week’s replay episode, and find a moment this week to pray for the intercession of the Blessed Mother this week. Mary, Our Lady of Częstochowa, pray for us!