Third Year - End Game

One week from today is the last day of classes.  The rest of the week is Finals week and the end of my third year here at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary (Yes, we have a new name as well)

I have two papers and three finals to complete before I leave on May 9th.  I'll be in Maine most of the rest of the month with planned trips back to the Boston area for various events in May.

At the end of May, I'll be starting my summer assignment in Abington/Whitman, Massachusetts.  I'll be there for about two months.  That parish will also be my fourth year assignment.  I'll be there from September to May as my proto-deacon and Deacon assignment.  I've met with the pastor and staff and it seems to be a good fit based on those meetings.  You will, of course, get updates on my typical random schedule.

Three Prayers for the Triduum

I wrote these for the choir.  After we do our final rehearsal before each night, we have a prayer before we head upstairs to sing...

Thursday

A towel…A basin…A simple act of humility…

This is my body…This is my blood…Do this in memory of me.

The last supper…The first Mass.

O God, we ask that you grant us every grace to more fully participate in the Mass.  Help us to understand and appreciate the great gift that Christ gave us in the Eucharist.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Friday

The cross…The barren altar…

There is your mother…Father, forgive them…It is finished…

The broken body…The spilled blood…The wood of the cross.

God our Father, we ask that you grant us every healing that we need to be a better imitator of Christ.  As He took our sins upon His body to the cross, let us carry our small crosses as best we can knowing how much more He carried.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Saturday

A single flame…a candlelit church…the Exsultet…

An earthquake…The empty tomb…An angel of the Lord…

He is risen…He is truly risen.

Baptisms…Confirmations…First Eucharists…New Life in the Church.

For 40 days we have fasted and our fast is finally over.

We can once again say…

We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song. (3X)

O God, we ask that you grant us every blessing that we need to be like these new members of your Church.  Help us to see what they see in your Church and bring us to new life with them.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

A letter to St. Catherine's Music Ministry

In July of 1984, two music ministers who were looking for inspiration attended the NPM convention in Rochester, NY.  They heard many fresh new ideas and realized that those ideas would never be accepted at their parish in Ayer.  At that same convention, they met two other musicians  from Westford who invited them to come and sing at their parish.  A few months later, in September, we joined the music program at St. Catherine’s. 

If we fast forward to 2014, there are many changes that have occurred.  Music directors have changed, organs have changed, the church buildings have changed, musicians have come and gone, and some musicians have died.  One of those deaths has opened up new paths for me.  When Carmen died, I was devastated, but you supported me and God provides. 

For 30 years now, I have been involved with the music program at St. Catherine’s and now it is time to close this book as well.  Very soon after Easter, I will start my last summer assignment for the seminary. Fall of 2014 and spring of 2015 will find me at my new parish every weekend with no opportunity to return to play on Saturday nights.  This Triduum and Easter morning will mostly likely be the last times that I sing and play with the musicians at St. Catherine’s.

I cannot describe the mixed feelings that I have.  30 years is a long time and St. Catherine’s has been a huge part of my Catholic life.  I will miss playing and singing with you all more than I can describe.  But I have a new road to travel now.  It will have its own joys and rewards.  I am excited to be almost ready to embark on that road after my final year in the seminary and priestly ordination in 2015, God willing!

Know that I will always pray for you.  Please keep raising your voices in song to our Lord.  You do it so well.  I can only hope that the next music program that I work with will be as good as this one has been.