Only by Grace, I answered a call to serve as a music minister and director of the Church I grew up singing and worshipping in.
It’s been over a half of a century of ministering music and leading our parish family in song.
So many talented music ministers, as young as four (4) and as old as ninety-eight (98) have joined our SFC A Little Joyful Noise Ensemble, along with the SFC Children’s Choir, GHS Teen God Squad Choir and SFC Youth Choir.
Some moved on, some fell ill, some were married, and became parents, while others lost their children. Some became school administrators, counselors, curators, artists, and cantors in faraway parishes. We even had a drummer become a Brother and just became a Priest. Two became Deacons, another drummer is a local Family Practioner, another an opera singer, many passed away, but all who have become members would share their time and talents and even rally around and minister music at members’ 1st Communions, Confirmations, Christmas, Easter and members weddings and especially their funeral Masses.
Half of my life, I was blessed to have my beloved husband, parents, and children beside me every step of this vocation that was placed at my feet.
When my Dad passed away, they rallied around my Mom and I.
Just ten (10) short months later my beloved, our Ensemble’s sound engineer, passed away suddenly, again Mom and I found the strength as this ensemble came together to shake the shingles off our Church roof.
The entire Ensemble, including my Mom, all my children, my brothers, my sisters, nieces, and nephews, all joined the Ensemble to minister music at his funeral.
It was a gift I could never repay and one that I will never forget. The moment in my life I felt the Love of God surrounding me with Faith, Family and Friends.
This ensemble had done the same, again coming together to minister for my Mom’s funeral Mass just four (4) short years later. Mom always told me, “No matter what, You! Will sing at my funeral!!”
It is a very hard thing to hear, when your Mom is your very best friend, but she sang on my left for three (3) decades and up until nine (9)months before her passing, but the Lord saw fit to hand-pick such very special spirit-filled musicians and vocalists to surround my children and myself, who collectively shared their Faith and Strength with us and help to fullfill my Mom’s last request.
The choirs have come and gone like the seasons and as the needs of our parish have change, yet thus far our ensemble continues to ebb and flow. For how long? As long as our parish family allows the A Little Joyful Noise Ensemble to inspire them to sing the Lord’s Praises, and I take this time to pray and thank the Lord for each and every family member, parishioners and friend living and deceased, who dared to share their time and talents by joined the SFC ALJN Ensemble to help inspire our parish family to sing His Praise. My prayers are always with you and your family always.
by Deanna G. DeBondt
Saturday, July 27, 2024
3:11am
“Christians Let Us Love One Another” By Claudia Foltz, SNJM and Armand Nigro SJ (Cover) Sharing a Rehearsal before Mass with a few core members.
Healing thru Song+ 