NOVEMBER 2022
on All Saints Day? Te psalmist sings, “Tey go out, they go full of tears . . . they come back, they come back full of song” (Psalm 126:5-6). Are you ready and able to join this procession from grief and tears to joy and gladness? I’d like to offer some examples of a hopeful future as we emerge from the pandemic experience.
Kindness and collaboration
I would not criticize, impugn, or mock any colleague for anything they did or failed to do these last two and a half years in an attempt to help parishioners pray and sing. Perhaps the first blessing arising out of the pandemic was the abundance of care and support we showed to one another. Tis was especially true among music directors and those in leadership positions. In a time when no one knew what to do, we listened to each other and shared ideas about how we were going to get through this. We encouraged one another, and we took an interest in how the parish next door was handling the very same issues. We put aside our differences and worked together. Te truth can be told now: we did some creative if not crazy things! Cantors sang from behind plastic shields or helmets, and Communion was distributed through a plexiglass window like tickets at a theater. Parishes offered drive-through communion following a live streamed Mass. (Is this really that different from Communion to the homebound?) As for me, I never imagined in my professional ministry I would one day be pre-recording the Easter Vigil on a Tuesday morning at my parish with one of the country’s most eminent liturgical theologians presiding. No matter what we did, no matter how crazy it sounded at the time, we were kind to one another. We gave ourselves permission to experiment. We collaborated, and we made informed decisions on what seemed to be the best thing to do at that time. Can we hope to commit ourselves to always being supportive, collaborative, and kind as we move forward?
A time to catechize and form
As choir members, liturgical ministers, and parishioners gradually come back to church, we are being given a privileged time to re-form and re-catechize. Before too many pandemic practices become the norm, it’s time to walk back some of
“We have an opportunity to relearn how to make music together.”
them. Cantors need to be reminded that they no longer sing in place of the assembly as they did when congregational singing was not permitted. Likewise, congregations need to be reminded the cantor is not present to sing on behalf of the assembly. Te cantor and congregation sing in dialogue with one another, each taking the parts belonging to them.
As parishes eased back into singing, our liturgies (whether recorded, live streamed, or in person) displayed a certain hierarchy of what was sung. As we cautiously and carefully reinserted music into the liturgy, we most likely started with the dialogues and acclamations, followed by other liturgical texts accompanying liturgical actions. Eventually we returned to hymns, songs, and choral and solo music.
We have an opportunity to relearn how to make music together. Trough bulletin articles, short informational videos, notes in worship aids, and formational gatherings, we have an opportunity to remind ourselves how the Body of Christ sings together. Can we hope that our music ministry members and members of the congregation have and will come to understand the importance of what is sung at liturgy?
Live streamed and recorded liturgies
One of the unexpected consequences of the pandemic has been the establishment of live streamed and recorded liturgies as a “new normal” in parish life for those unable to attend Mass. In the first months of the pandemic, installation of cameras and computers in worship spaces provided a means for those not allowed to gather to have some connection with communal worship. What grew out of a need has turned into a wonderful outreach tool for parishes. Some remain uncomfortable returning to church, and some of our parishioners will always be unable physically to be present. Our continued live stream efforts allow these individuals to feel part of the parish
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