praying for you

Just went through that myself, brother in the midwest. You have my prayers.

very sorry to hear it, Kevin... wishing you the best in your future!

HHF?

His Holiness ____________.
I don't want to be responsible for digression either, CGZ. Suffice it to say, the arbitrary ambivalence witnessed that first Holy Thursday of the pontificate tells the tale and has come to fruition, IMO. YMMV.

I played and sang in a concert Kevin recently did at his parish, and can testify to the good work he has done with the adult and children's choirs. There is a good camaraderie in the groups of diverse personalities and skill levels, and they love singing great music. He has been a great commiserating colleague and friend, and we will miss him around here.

Praying for you. :(

So true. Preists and rectors are not usually interested in the veiws if the musician(s) but rather how they music people can implement their vision.

Thank you all. I appreciate your words of sympathy and encouragement.

Those of us who have done this any length of time know that a) we are one priest away from having no job and b) that it is incumbent to find like minded clergy. These two factors make or break us. We are given what we are given.

I have been at this for 30+ years. Strangely enough, I am more excited than ever about the possibilities of sacred music. The ground really has shifted...perhaps more slowly than some would wish and there will be bumps along the road. But in my conversations with clergy and people the indication is that this group and other like minded groups are making an impact. Is it finished? No...and I believe that there is still much work to be done. I really am hopeful, even in my dark moment of this time.

So while my situation has taken an unfortunate turn (this is not my first), I will move on and this group will continue to influence. I have done good work where I am, and now its on to another place.

Thank you for your help in assisting me to find that place. I am truly grateful.

Bon courage mes amis,
Kevin

Thanks Julie. We sang it yesterday and I was very comforted. Once again the words of the Church give us what we need.

Sorry to hear this, Kevin. Prayers for you to find a fruitful new venture.

For some reason, for many years, priests have not been taught to ignore the people in the congregation.

The hold that people in the congregation, especially those with money, have over pastors is the cause of most parish problems, as they work to have their own church, not a Catholic church.

When a music director arrives, people immediately begin working to destroy everything that is done, to go back to the way it was before. This is often a long and slow process, but they eventually get their way.

It's time to go to a protestant church to regain your identity and make more money with one service a week instead of 4 or 5.

Praying for you!

Noel,

To do as you suggest is to work within a false religion. As a work of evangelization, this can be justified.

Kevin, you are in my prayers. If you take that MN job, we could hang out (as I took the MN job I was looking for). I am sorry that your work is being dismantled (to whatever degree). Now you have the chance to spread that work to more places.

~Conor

Forgot that Nixon was a Catholic and successfully converted China! I stand corrected.

While I respect Noel's points regarding working in the Catholic Church, my experience says otherwise, even as I face the prospect of finding a new place.

Yes, there is a risk to work in the Roman rite. One priest can upset the whole apple cart, so to speak. But I know for myself, the risks are outweighed by the rewards. I am reminded that the Roman rite is only 50 years out from VII. We have a lot to work out but there is also excitement. I have worked in a Protestant church and by all accounts, that particular denomination is dying. While the RC s are not breaking down the doors, there is still life there. And there is life there because we are still doing the THEOLOGY that is who we are. We struggle to live it out, our tradition offers so much and there is so much to be done.

Of course, I am not happy because of my situation, but I still love the Church and I want to be part of her life. My spiritual director says it best," I love the Church like a mother and a whore...."

Do not despair, go and work in the Church. It is never easy, but it is worth every moment of it.

Back to the job ads....

They hire us to implement their vision

I think this is giving the average priest/pastor way too much credit.

They hire us to play 4.5 songs on Sunday and to deal with weddings and funerals. And they hire us because they can't (at that particular moment) find anyone in the parish to do these things for free.