Past Meetings

                   Activities for the Chapter of the Archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut

THE LAST NPM HARTFORD CHAPTER MEETING WAS ON TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 6, 2003  7:00 PM AT ST. LAURENT CHURCH IN MERIDEN .  

This meeting featured a panel discussion to address concerns around CONGREGATIONAL PARTICIPATION.   Based loosely on the Connecticut Forum model, a panel of four experts will made  presentations, followed by questions and comments from the audience.

THE PANEL:

Fr. Robert Burbank, former chair Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission, founding co-pastor St. Elizabeth  Seton Parish, Rocky Hill.

 Susan Jorgensen, spiritual director, award winning author on liturgical renewal, and nationally known workshop and retreat leader who resides in Connecticut.

 Ezequiel Menendez, organist and music director, St. Joseph Cathedral, Hartford.  

  Elizabeth Husmer, director of music at St. Elizabeth Seton in Rocky Hill and a member of the music ministry
  staff at Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford.

This common and well-aged concern among pastors and pastoral musicians has been the most noted topic of concern among Hartford NPM members who responded on the registration form this past year.  How do we get them to sing? Is it all on the musicians shoulders? How are other ministries involved? Do our expectations out-stretch our limitations?  Is mediocrity an acceptable compromise? Clergy/musician relationships are vital.  Church documents and contemporary liturgical thinking attest to sound strategies and planning, but are we doing enough to open up the Spirituality of the liturgy? What part do other liturgical ministries play, and how do we all pull together?  What can musicians do to insure they are doing the right things?  The discussion was moderated by Rick Swenton from St. Joseph Church in Bristol.

COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR WARMS 
WITH RECORD ATTENDANCE AT CHORAL REVIEW SESSION

(Most) Go Home With Over 20 Pieces of New Choral Music

The January meeting held on 1/22 at St. Elizabeth Seton Church in Rocky Hill , Connecticut featured a choral review session for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter.  The purpose was to assist directors and choirs in evaluating music for these liturgical seasons.  Apparently it held interest for many – about 60 in all.   At least half in attendance were choir members, friends, and associates not officially affiliated with NPM.  Apologies to those who needed to share music and had a hard time with vision - we did not anticipate such a remarkable response, and most registrations came in the last 48 hours; we'll try do better with that next time.

Katherine DeJulio, the Crossroads reporter who filmed and interviewed many at the session informed me that the segment was to be aired Sunday and Monday (Feb 2 & 3) mornings at 10:30 , on WTXX channel 20.

Director Michael Mainella led the session, with accompanists Elizabeth Husmer (music director at St. Eliz Seton), and Eric Hoffman ( St. Jerome , New Britain ).  A list of the selections follows.  Ideas came from Eric Hoffman, Jane Peacock, Clara DuBaldo, Theresa Bisson, Fr. David Cinquegrani, Elizabeth Husmer, Toni Jardine and Michael Mainella.  Publishers donated 40 copies of each selection, including OCP, GIA, Hope Publishing, and WLP. 

A highlight for me was the Schutte Glory in the Lord, (ritual) Music for the Easter Triduum, which came out just last year (OCP).

GIA:  800-442-1358               WLP: 800-566-6150
OCP: 800-LITURGY              HOPE: 800-323-1049  

SPRING MEETING AIMING FOR PANEL DISCUSSION ON CONGREGATIONAL PARTICIPATION

More to follow!

Four workshops were held last year, and four more are planned for this year.  Last year’s activities included a presentation of Sibelius Music Notation Software, a presentation on managing an effective parish music program, the Rite of Funerals revisited, and an overview of AGO/NPM organ certification.  Our thanks to Robin Hodson, (Sibelius), Rick Fowler, Rev. David Baranowski, and Jean Degan.

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