Local residents attend National Pastoral Musicians' Conference in Indiana

"‘Where all can be as one.’ I cannot imagine another convention where all who were in attendance took this theme to heart with such passion."     -- Christina Haselhorst

The 2007 National Pastoral Musicians Conference was held in Indianapolis, Indiana, July 9-13. Along with more than 3,300 attendees, representatives from the Prince of Peace Parish in Great Bend (Father Reginald Urban, Connie Schneweis, and Bryan Pinkall), Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Dodge City (Dee Burke), and the Diocese of Dodge City (Christina Haselhorst) attended many breakout sessions geared towards musical directors, organists, pianists, cantors, religious and other parish musicians. More than 142 speakers and performers taught us how to better plan our musical liturgies, how to cantor and/or play our instruments well and prayerfully, how to effectively work together with other parish members, councils and clergy, and how to work well with our music group members.

"We were surrounded by great composers of our time, listening to their music and sharing with them both in conversation with them but also in singing with them their compositions, whether new or familiar," said Schneweis.

Some of the composers and performers present included: the St. Louis Jesuits, Michael Joncas, David Kauffman, David Haas, Marty Haugen, Tony Alonso, Kate Cuddy, Steven Warner, Pablo Sosa, Michael Connolly, Ricky Manalo, Liam Lawton, Dan Schutte, and Grayson Warren Brown.

"What I found striking was how many people our Catholic Church has in her midst who are so talented and are so ready to share their time and talent with their parishes," Haselhorst said. "What great stewards. It did not matter how well you could sing, how well you could write music (if at all), how well you could play an instrument, or how well you could lead a group."

As Bryan Pinkall stated, "The most humbling part of it all is that everyone is on equal ground."

"NPM [was and] has been probably the best educational and enriching music event I have been a part of," Pinkall said. "It definitely is an experience. You are saturated with music, people who love music, and it leaves you awake at night amazed at such an awesome experience. The music we created gives me chills, and the support of the other musicians, from all over the world, was astonishing. It was overwhelming, but it made me feel at peace…. Everyone there was there to make music; it wasn’t a group of performers, or composers, or editors. Everyone was there because they love what they do and love to empower that love to others."

"My first experience at NPM has been life changing and I cannot wait to go to the next conference in two years," Haselhorst said. "As I participated in Mass on the day of the Feast of St. Benedict, I was actually moved to tears while ‘Ubi Caritas’ was being sung during communion by more than 3,300 musicians, with deep love and prayer. While the sounds coming from that auditorium were beautiful, the overwhelming love for Christ was predominant, and it is what I feel moved my heart to tears of joy that day."

"[The NPM Conference] for myself, offers a moment to look at the liturgy in a universal church that is ever changing and expanding," Schneweis said. "I am reminded that liturgy is far more than at my Church. The members are connected through music to a higher level of worship. I pray that my gratitude for this experience will be heard and felt in my music and liturgies."

"While this conference offered us the opportunities to see new people, witness some amazing concerts (attending an Indianapolis Children’s Choir performance is a must if you’re ever in Indy), take in some amazing sights, and eat some terrific food, this conference was a musical, spiritual journey," Haselhorst explained.

"It brought together bishops, priests, sisters, composers, and church musicians in a camaraderie that most of us have never experienced. It showcased the need for individual NPM chapters to form in our dioceses so we are able to stay in touch with other parishes. NPM provides a vehicle for evaluating new and current musical selections, advocates musical excellence for our parishes, and can providing mutual support for effective liturgical planning and improvements in the quality of, and the interest in, parish music."