Sixth Sunday of Easter Some parishes give the choir a “break” during the summer. Rest is important. Even God rested! But we might rethink this practice of giving music ministers a formal break from the Sunday Mass. One reason is … Read More
Fifth Sunday of Easter While everyone else is starting to look forward to summer, we’ve only come to the halfway point of Easter! Especially because Easter Sunday came so late this year, we might start to feel a bit like … Read More
Fourth Sunday of Easter At the 2016 national meeting of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions, Mark R. Francis, CSV, said in his keynote: “Liturgy in our multicultural church needs to help us get over the presumption that our particular … Read More
Third Sunday of Easter Eating is a small, good thing in a time like this” (Raymond Carver, “A Small, Good Thing,” Cathedral, 1983). This line in the final scene of Carver’s short story is the turning point toward reconciliation and … Read More
Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday) In Easter, the newly baptized begin to experience the world and their faith through the lens of the sacraments they have celebrated. They hone this new perception in the Sunday Masses of the … Read More
Fifth Sunday of Lent We approach the summit of this annual ascent to the holy mountain of Easter. Let us, as music ministers, reflect on how we have served the people of God in this ministry of prayer and proclamation. … Read More
Fourth Sunday of Lent We come to the midway point of Lent on this Laetare (“rejoice”) Sunday. And what rejoicing do we have today in our readings! Having squandered all he had, the prodigal son finds a banquet prepared for … Read More
Third Sunday of Lent Starting this Sunday, the church celebrates the first of three scrutinies for the elect—adults and children of catechetical age who will be baptized this Easter. These rites use the readings for year A even in years … Read More
Second Sunday of Lent In today’s readings, God’s presence is revealed within darkness. Only when night fell did the Lord appear to a terrified Abram to make the covenant with him and his descendants. From the very cloud that had … Read More
First Sunday of Lent The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy describes Lent’s twofold nature: “[B]y recalling or preparing for baptism and by penance, it disposes the faithful, who more diligently hear the word of God and devote themselves to prayer, … Read More