This week we’re starting a multi-part series celebrating the many Faces in which we see and honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. We’ll explore the different ways we honor her, both in feasts and cultures and devotions across the world. We’re still looking for testimonials on how you celebrate Mary in your parish. Do you celebrate her with a special feast Mass? Or maybe you provide a special set of novenas or other devotional. Or have you journeyed on a pilgrimage to honor our Blessed Mother. If any of this sounds like something you relate to, we want to hear from you! Email us with your Marian story at ministrymonday@npm.org. Your story could be featured in the coming weeks of the podcast.
May is traditionally the month of Mary, and we love honoring her and the many ways in which we worship. I was deeply affected when I visited the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. If you’ve never been there, you owe it to yourself to make a pilgrimage there. The “basement” floor of the Basilica honors Mary in her many forms and faces across the world. It’s so powerful. And thus the inspiration of this series began!
The Faces of Mary begins this week with two stories of devotion to our Blessed Mother. The first comes from Dr. Neil Stahurski, a pastoral musician in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Neil holds a Doctorate in Organ from the Eastman School of Music, as well as a Master’s Degree in Music from Duquesne University. He has served as a member of the Executive Board of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and has served as a panelist/lecturer for the Pittsburgh Chapter of NPM, and has also performed in recital at the 2001 NPM National Convention in Washington, D.C. He is the director of the Karuzela Chorus, a choir that sings in Polish for liturgies and cultural events in the Pittsburgh area. He holds a special interest in the Organ Literature of Poland, and has presented lecture recitals on Polish organ literature.
Neil shares his connection to Our Lady of Częstochowa, a venerated icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary originating in Poland.
Our second and last interview for today’s episode comes from Debbie Brown. Debbie is a cantor, bell choir member, resurrection choir member, and a member of the Marian Singers at Saint Mary of Sorrows in Fairfax, Virginia. Clearly, Debbie is the type of devoted pastoral musician we all wish we had in our program!
Debbie wrote into the program because she went on a pilgrimage to Knock, Ireland, and Međugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her devotion to the Blessed Mother is clear, and I’m honored to share her story with you today.
SHOW NOTES
For more information about how to celebrate Polish heritage and Our Lady of Częstochowa, contact Dr. Stahurski via email here.
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