Gospel Anniversary Concert #18

Well, it's all over! Today we are recuperating from weeks of hard work, music-wise, and so we can finally get rid of the stress that had built up for the past several months in our music ministry. If you recall in August, the gospel choir I am a member of, had to learn the music for and to sing at an ethnic Nuptial Mass at our Cathedral. That Mass turned out to be a beautiful event and we did our part well too.

At the same time, we were preparing songs for our gospel concert that was held yesterday in our parish church. Because we had to learn so much new music for the Nuptial Mass, we limited ourselves to only 2 new gospel songs and a couple of songs we seldom sing at Mass because of various reasons. (Please note, that many of the gospel songs have to be modified a little to make them appropriate for Mass selections.) Gospel music in concert is often very repetitive and it takes time to sing it properly.

In addition to the songs we sang, were songs provided by the five gospel choirs from various Christian churches/groups in the surrounding area. Each sang their three allotted songs. It was a wonderful mixture of different gospel styles and the audience was very appreciative.

My gospel choir began 32 years ago and there are still several of us around who have been members from the early years. We are a mixed group of around seventeen members. And after so many years together, we can sing!

Our concert was the 18th we had celebrated over the years. Because our choir had had a major transition about 2 years ago in losing our director/pianist who had been with us for 13 years, we had no concert last year. We now have a new pianist and our assistant director has assumed leadership of the choir. She is excellent; as is our new pianist, whose wife is a parishioner!

After all the musical festivities, we had food for our guests. All the good stuff that our choir members prepared: deviled eggs, meatballs, fried chicken, glazed chicken, ham sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, salad platters, cheese platters, cake, and punch... Choir members had decorated the parish hall for the reception and members of the parish helped us serve our guests and ourselves.

It really was a wonderful afternoon. We received many compliments, both for our music, as well as for our repast. You can guess we were exhausted at the end of the day; but we are looking forward to next year when we will do it again!

One of the gospel songs we sang was Hezikiah Walker's Grateful. You can find it here:

Grateful

Other than the fact that Hezikiah Walker's choir is larger, we sound just like this!

Female Deacons?

"Similarly, deacons must be dignified, not deceitful, not addicted to drink, not greedy for sordid gain, holding fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Moreover, they should be tested first; then, if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

Women, similarly, should be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in everything. Deacons may be married only once and must manage their children and their households well. Thus those who serve well as deacons gain good standing and much confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus." 1 Tim 3:8-13


These verses were taken from the New American Bible and were part of the 1st Reading for the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows celebrated today, September 15, 2009.

I recall reading earlier this year about the possibility of ordaining women into the diaconate at some point in the future. I imagine these verses are part of the "proof" that at one time, women as well as men, filled this role in the Christian community.

I was looking at the footnotes in my bible this morning after I read this passage. Here is what the footnotes in the New American Bible had to say about this verse 11 (with my emphasis):

"Women: this seems to refer to women deacons but may possibly mean wives of deacons. The former is preferred because the word is used absolutely; if deacons' wives were meant, a possessive "their" would be expected. Moreover, they are also introduced by the word "similarly," as in 1 Tim 3:8; this parallel suggests that they too exercised ecclesiastical functions."

I would certainly be in favor of ordaining women deacons. There could surely be no reason to withhold this ministry from women since it obviously was a legitimate one in the early Church. I'd like to know the reason it was suppressed in the first place. I would hate to think it was abolished because the powers-that-be were afraid that women might think they could then aspire to the priesthood...

Well, folks... What do you think?

Something's Missing

I have found it very helpful for my own spiritual life, if I can attend Mass during the week as well as on Sunday. My own parish has only a Wednesday evening Mass which I attend, but I have found that a local Catholic hospital not far from my home has Mass in its chapel twice a week. The hospital is within the service area of a Catholic parish not my own. The pastor celebrates Mass there before going on his hospital rounds. Our little community of about 15 regulars come mainly from the priest's parish, but also from surrounding parishes like I do. We are a congenial group.

So what is the problem?

Although the Mass is celebrated reverently, it is missing some of its little rituals. What has happened to the several drops of water that the celebrant is supposed to pour into the chalice with the wine? The co-mingling of the water and wine. There is no water cruet set out for that or for washing his hands. There is no paten for a larger host; only a plate containing the small hosts. What has happened to the breaking of a consecrated Host and the tiny bit that is supposed to be put into the chalice with the Precious Blood? It doesn't happen as far as I can tell...

It's a pity since these rituals all have a meaning that now is lost to those of us who attend these Masses. However, I am not the one who is going to call the priest's attention to the lack of these rituals. From what I have gathered, he is not happy when he is questioned about certain issues. I am a visitor there so I am just grateful that I can attend these Masses and receive my Lord during the week.