I spent the last six weeks preparing for the past two
weekends. I had the privilege of playing
the organ for all the masses at St. John’s and St. Teresa’s churches the
weekends of June 28/29 and July 5/6, while the music director, Dr. Kevin Birch,
was out of town. I led the music for
three masses each weekend: 4 pm on
Saturday (St. John’s), 10:30 am on Sunday (St. John’s), and 5:30 pm on Sunday
(St. Teresa’s). Both St. John’s (Bangor)
and St. Teresa’s (Brewer) churches are part of St. Paul the Apostle
Parish. I have been learning to play the
acclamations (the standard music for the Masses that is repeated every Sunday)
for the past six months, and more recently I learned to play the hymns for
these two weekends. I was joined by excellent
cantors who led the singing. Since my
goal is to be a church music minister when I graduate with a degree in music,
leading the music for the past two weeks was a big step towards that goal.
I received a letter today from the Dean of the University of
Maine College of Liberal Arts and Sciences informing me that I made the Dean’s
List for the spring semester.
At the console of E. & G.G. Hook Opus 288 at St. John’s
Catholic Church, Bangor
