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In-Person Mass & Singing
Tom Kaczmarek
How Can We Keep (You) From Singing?
We have a proud tradition of sung liturgy at St. Michael. But now, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are asked to refrain from singing. How can that be? God has wired us to praise him in song, our impulse is to worship God with Glorias, Alleluias, and Hosannas. Hallelujah is our song, right? How can we keep from proclaiming to the rafters as we exit Mass, ‘blessed be the name of our God’? How can Fr. Dan keep from singing as he dances?
Sadly, scientific evidence bears out that the physical act of singing leads us to project droplets further, and not just a little further, into the air than speaking. And the deep breathing necessary to sustain singing leads us to inhale air—and all that is in the air—more deeply into our lungs. Masks are not 100% effective in this case. Simply put, singing in a confined space is dangerous.
Along with all those who love to sing, the Music Ministry mourns the loss of this essential aspect of our praise and worship. Our hearts are broken. The loss of the voice of the assembly leaves a void that cannot be filled.
So, what hope do we have, even in the darkest night? Well, we are not prohibited from singing while away from church. I am one of those (annoying?) people with a song at the ready on the tip of my tongue. In this, I am like my grandfather who always had a song in his heart.
That song is ours for keeps. Go ahead, sing as you do the dishes, while walking the dog, and, by all means, sing at home with the 11:15 AM Music Mass on Sunday mornings. For just as God hears the cry of the lowly, he hears songs of joy from the hearts of his humble servants, regardless of where they ring out from. God does not check your GPS coordinates. Whether you are on your porch, in your garage, or seated in your den/office/kitchen—sing!
Keep your voice in good shape, and, one day, we will once again raise the roof in praise—Hallelujah is our song!Sing! Just not in the sanctuary. For now.
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Music Ministry & COVID-19
Important statement regarding Music Ministry and COVID-19
(May 22, 2020)Liturgical Song Has a Preeminent Place Among the Liturgical Arts
Sacramentum Caritatis 42
National Association of Pastoral Musicians
Imagine a funeral without a most beloved hymn, or a wedding with a silent procession. A Christmas Eve without O Come, All Ye Faithful or an Easter Sunday without Jesus Christ is Risen Today. Music touches us at a deep, profoundly human level like nothing else can. Music is essential to the celebration of the liturgy.
No recording or virtual choir can replace the live experience of singing in a church full of people: it is inherently an embodied action that requires us to be present in the flesh, just as Christ was and is present to the church in the flesh.
Pastoral musicians have been, and continue to be, important leaders in parish communities. No one is sadder than we are over the loss of the sound of human voices in praise, in consolation, and in faith. But we now find ourselves in a time when singing together, based on scientific evidence, is somewhere between difficult and dangerous.
We are grateful for the leadership of our bishops and pastors in ensuring a safe worship environment and promoting the common good. We call for continued cooperation among medical experts and pastoral ministers in developing solutions for singing safely and pledge our support for such efforts. We pray for the sick, the dying, and everyone adversely affected by this crisis and its ramifications. While we are fasting now in ways we have never known, we look forward to a time when we can once again raise our voices together in song in a great sonic feast.
Important and Helpful Information
NPM COVID-19 Resource Page
COVID-19 Research Articles and Resource List
COVID-19: Knowing the Risks and How to Avoid Them
Singing, the Church, and COVID-19: A Caution for Moving Forward
National Association of Teachers of Singing - Resource Page
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WE DID IT!
We officially have Hit the Right Note!
Thank you, Michaelonians!
We are grateful for all the parishioners
who contributed to our beautiful new piano!
Thank You! -
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Sunday Word A Weekly Reflection for Pastoral Musicians
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
January 17, 2021
“I have waited, waited for the LORD, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry. And he put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God.”
(Psalm 40: 2)ReflectionSunday by Sunday pastoral musicians invite the holy people of God to proclaim Christ in Word and song. Together we proclaim, “here I am Lord.” As I read and reflect on todays’ scriptures, I have been thinking about the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. whose day we observe tomorrow and the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity that we celebrate this week. We all continue to cry out “that all may be one.” King lived out the sentiments of psalm 40 – He waited patiently for the Lord and cried out to God for his people. King’s faith was a firm foundation to all he did. He sang a new song, a song of love and equality, a song of brotherhood and sisterhood. As our world and Church continues to struggle amid pandemic, death, racial tension, no or curtailed choral and assembly song; how will we respond to the “call” that we hear in today’s Scriptures? How can we move forward from isolation and division and embrace challenges and opportunities that await us in the days and months to come? How will our own vocation be awakened? What new song will we sing? Perhaps a new song that we can introduce to our faith communities is Lift Every Voice and Sing (ANTHEM). A song that embraces, harmony, liberty, hope, victory and light.
PrayerGod of our silent tears, keep us forever on your path, may we be true to you, to our vocation of taking a new song on our lips as we cry out in both words of praise and lament!
Michael R. Prendergast
Sacred Liturgy Ministries
Portland, OregonCopyright © 2020, National Association of Pastoral Musicians. Parish members of NPM may reproduce this material for use in their own parish. -
Get to Know Our Music Ministry
St. Michael Choir
Under the direction of Tom Kaczmarek, the St. Michael Adult Choir, now 60 members plus, has been together since 1992. Our Music Ministry also has a Children’s Choir and an Arts & Praise Choir (middle school), and a Handbell Choir, all under the direction of Jenny Ivens, Minister of Music. In addition to the Adult Choir, Tom also directs the Rhythm Section and Instrumentalists. Currently over 60 active members share lively, exuberant, and spirit-filled music with the St. Michael community each Sunday, ranging in age from high school to “seasoned.” The songs of the assembly are highly eclectic, coming from a wide palette of tastes, ranging from chant to gospel to Chris Tomlin—and most everything in between. Our Music Ministry/Choir has performed a number of musicals, including The Music Man, Oklahoma, and Godspell. They have also produced four CDs. There Is a Time was released this past year. St. Michael is blessed to have such accomplished and generous musicians who come together to praise God!
Tom Kaczmarek
Music Director
Tom began accompanying Mass at St. Michael in 1994 and took on the Music Director role in 1999. He met his wife Lori when she joined the choir in 1994. They were married in 1997.
Tom received his B.A. in Music Composition and Theory from VCU and earned an M.A. in Theology from Notre Dame in 2008.
Tom and Lori reside in Rockville on 5+ acres (Camp Rockville) with their two sons, Jack (14) and Sam (12), and their dog Jazz, a standard poodle. Tom has a daughter from a previous marriage, Macy, who, along with her husband Matt, is raising two young daughters in Glen Allen. Jack and Rita (85 and 83 years young!), Tom’s parents, recently moved to Short Pump to join the fun out at Camp Rockville.
Most of Tom’s free time is devoted either to writing or chasing his sons’ sports teams around.
Tom is an avid Packers fan (a sports fan in general), a trait he shares with Lori and all his children. Tom enjoys the company of his family, whether watching a game, going to the movies, making music, or working outside in the fresh air together.Joe Sarver is one of the more in-demand bass players in the Central Virginia area. He has been playing the bass professionally since the age of 12. A native Richmonder, Joe has spent the better part of his musical career working with many of the most notable musicians in the Central Virginia region in every venue imaginable. Over the years, he has been fortunate enough to have some wonderful musical associations with great veteran jazz players on the Richmond scene, as well as a number of key figures in the jazz world of national prominence. Joe is a National Endowment of the Arts award recipient for Jazz Studies. He has a passion for Brazilian music, especially Brazilian jazz. St. Michael is so fortunate to have Joe in our Music Ministry.
Joe Sarver
To get to know Joe and his musical endeavors, visit his website at joesarver.com.
Jenny Ivens
Music Minister
Jenny Ivens, a native Richmonder, has been the Music Minister/Cantor at St. Michael since 1999. In addition to cantoring the weekend Masses, Jenny also directs the Children’s Choir, the Arts & Praise Group, and the Handbell Choir. She received her B.A. in Music from East Carolina University. Currently, she is the Lower School Music Teacher and Choir Director at St. Catherine’s School. Previous to St. Catherine’s, Jenny taught music and choir at St. Bridget School.
Jenny and her husband Ed have been married for 12 years. They have an eight-year-old daughter, Genevieve. When Jenny is not teaching or singing, she enjoys spending her time with family!
We are thankful, Jenny, that you have shared your talent with St. Michael all these years!
Julia Niedermaier (left) & Laura Stapleton (right)
Laura Stapleton grew up in the wings of St. Michael. Coming from a musical family, singing in school and church choir at an early age, she serves as a staff cantor both here at St. Michael and our neighbor St. Mary parish. Laura attended J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College and Longwood University to earn her undergraduate degree in Liberal Studies, with a focus in elementary and middle school education. Over the years, she has studied voice with Jeanette Cross McCalla and continues with her mother and mentor Melanie Coddington. In addition to cantoring, Laura serves as a Youth Minister for St. Mary’s parish. She is also a member of the newest Lay Ecclesial Ministry Institute class in our diocese. She is pursuing a graduate degree in Theology through St. Joseph’s College of Maine. Laura and her husband Jeff reside in Beaverdam. When not singing, studying, spending time with youth, or commuting, she enjoys feasting and being merry with loved ones at home around the table.
Julia Niedermaier has been a member of St. Michael parish since she was three years old. She has gone through the ranks of the Music Ministry, starting with the Children’s Choir, and then moving on to the Arts and Praise Group and Adult Choir. Julia serves as a cantor, as well. She went to Christopher Newport University to earn her undergraduate degree in Mathematics, and she stayed an extra year to earn her Masters in Arts of Teaching. Julia currently works as a 7th Grade Math teacher at Oak Knoll Middle School in Hanover County. She loves serving on the EDGE core team, cheering on any Detroit sports team, and coaching basketball in her free time.
Soloists Laura and Julie sing in Daughter of God. -
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Jill has been a member of the St. Michael Music Ministry for many years. She spent her early years in the Rhythm Section, being mentored by our seasoned members and working extremely hard—she rehearsed for two years before she ever played “live” at Mass! Her dedication and commitment to the ministry allowed her a spot at the drums regularly. Some of her favorites to play are Blessed Be Your Name, Our God Is Here, A Rightful Place, and This Is the Day. We have been blessed to have her as a devoted member of our Music Ministry. Jill is a rising sophomore at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT. Prior to attending the Academy, she was a Drum Major at Henrico High School.
The Daughter of God Ensemble
Jill Stuckey
Say Hi! to Jill when you see her celebrating with us over the Christmas break. We love having her “home,” as she brings a joyful and irrepressible energy to our liturgies. There is always a seat at the drum kit for her. Godspeed, Jill!
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Latest CD: There is a Time
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Contact
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Tom Kaczmarektkaczmareksaint-mikes.orgMusic Director
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Jenny Ivensjivenssaint-mikes.orgMusic Minister
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