With the end of the school year now complete, many of you start thinking about summertime. Summer plans include, if you are like me, family reunions, transporting our kids to events, taking care of our gardens and yards, attending weddings, taking a family vacation, enjoying the great outdoors and enjoying a little rest and relaxation.
The life of the church, however continues throughout the summer. On the liturgical calendar, we are in the season of Ordinary Time. But
ordinary does not mean necessarily “downsized” or “minimal celebration”. In other words, we do not downplay the importance of what takes place at each Mass.
Can we balance our plans to also take time for scripture reading, rehearsing music, praying, and participating as members of the body of Christ?
Opportunities to participate in our music ministry this summer are abundant. Please visit our Facebook page or contact me at the parish office for more information.
Since young people are vital to the present and future of our church, I am making a special effort to invite children and youth grades 3-8 to participate in a summer choir, and youth in grades 9 through college-aged to participate in a youth choir and orchestra.
Continual enrichment activities for adult choir members, cantors, organists, instrumentalists and vocalists will be provided throughout the summer, with various opportunities through the week to make our celebrations each weekend and daily truly prayerful and worthy of our cathedral. Extra practice is time well-spent when we consider that the salvation of the world is at stake. We as musicians have a profound mission to evangelize and through music bring our parishioners and ourselves to a deeper spirituality with love and service to God.
Music brings us together. The hymns and music presented this summer speak of the following themes presented at the Cantica Nova website:
June 9/10 10
th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Salvation, Faith, Deliverance, Mercy
June 16/17 11
th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Parables, Growth, Justice and Harvest
June 23/24 The Nativity of St. John the Baptist: Predestined Glory, Salvation, Prophesy and Light
June 30/July 1 13
th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Life, Healing, Faith, Trust, and Light
July 7/8 14
th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Discipleship, Love, Grace, Suffering, and Prophesy
July 14/15 15
th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mission, Discipleship, Chosen People, Word, Vocation
July 21/22 16
th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Shepherd, Spiritual Hunger, Revere, Intimate God
July 28/29 17
th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Food, Eucharistic Life, God’s Providence, Community
August 4/5 18
th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Strength from God, Spiritual Hunger, Eternal Life
August 11/12 19
th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Goodness of God, Forgiveness, Food, Eternal Life, Eternity
August 14/15 The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Preparation; Mary’s Honor and Divinity, Heavenly Life and Hope
August 18/19 20
th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Goodness of God, Bread of Life/Heavenly Banquet
August 25/26 21
st Sunday in Ordinary Time: Eucharist, Loyality, Faith, Formation, Response, Vocation and Service
The list of hymns are available to you at this website.
May this be a summer of spiritual growth as well as a time of refreshment and relaxation.