Musicians reap benefits of national convention

Sometimes, those in the pews may not recognize all of the preparation and hard work that goes into music ministry.

“I hear from some people, ‘Oh, I didn’t know this was your real job.’ Well, we don’t go to Mass unprepared. We plan, we pray, we don’t just show up,” says Maria Nieva, music minister in Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Shrine, Lindenwold.

With part of that preparation being spiritual and professional nourishment, Nieva and others from the Diocese of Camden attended the 46th annual National Association of Pastoral Musicians Convention, which was held July 10-14 in Reno, Nevada. This year’s theme was “Walking with the Saints”

“It was a gathering of experts in the field I could learn from,” said Nieva, who has attended for more than 25 years. Nieva, who serves as the organization’s Cultural Diversity chairperson, said, “I met people who had different stories and experiences and got to share some of my experiences as well.”

The NPM states its mission as promoting the art of musical liturgy, and serving the U.S. Catholic Church as musicians, clergy, liturgists and other leaders of prayer. Its annual conventions offer attendees the opportunities to meet fellow liturgists from across the nation and partake of multilingual prayer, plenum addresses and performances by nationally-known musicians, even jam sessions.

“There were excellent classes, such as how to improve your relationship with your pastor, wonderful tips on communications, new trends, new hymnals, and how music should address the Eucharist,” said Jonathan Delgado, director of music and liturgy, Notre Dame de la Mer Parish, Wildwood.

In addition to Nieva, (who also serves as pianist, conductor and leader of her parish’s children’s choir), and Delgado, pastoral musicians included Michael Bedics, director, diocesan Office of Worship and Christian Initiation; and Nancy Douglass, NPM staff member, managing editor of the Pastoral Music Magazine, and music minister and director for adult faith formation, the Catholic Community of Christ Our Light, Cherry Hill.

The four musicians recounted their recollections of the conference:

Why is it important to unite with fellow musicians from across the nation?

BEDICS: It’s good to take the opportunity to gather with people who do what you do on a regular basis. You know you are not alone. Getting outside your “box” and seeing what the Church looks like in other areas of the nation is priceless.

DELGADO: I enjoy the camaraderie, being with so many people from around the country who do what you do. We get so busy that we rarely reach out to others, but [at the convention] we can bond and build connections.

NIEVA: Beyond the liturgy and service, you feed your spiritual life as you serve the Church. Maybe at home you have a little eight-member choir in your church. Here, you have 2,000 people praying and singing with you and helping us worship. It is heaven.

What most excited/surprised you about this year’s convention?

NIEVA: The convention was so inclusive! Bishop Mark J. Seitz, Diocese of El Paso [the NPM episcopal moderator], was bilingual and so humble. The music director was from Oakland [California] and fluent in Spanish. I conducted the choir.

DOUGLASS: The plenum addresses were inspiring, there were dynamic speakers and energized attendees.

BEDICS: The presenters impressed me. Their willingness to remain open in a world very polarized, and it takes courage to hold your ground. There was a place for everyone. The keynotes were very good and they weren’t afraid to challenge us on justice issues facing the world while celebrating a liturgy done well.

What would you want non-musicians to know about your ministry?

DELGADO: Musicians bridge the gap, we make the connection between the readings and the music. It’s helpful when the priests sing along.

BEDICS: I don’t think people really understand what it takes. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes. When people see me, they think, ‘There’s the piano guy who plays at Bishop events.’ But there’s rehearsal, coordination … and we need hours a week to practice, too. 

DOUGLASS: What I do in music ministry is not just a job. There is a lot of time spent working toward being better. When I cantor, I pray before I sing the psalm [at Mass]. It is part of my faith.