Music and the Deacon

Ministers of the Liturgy

Active, Conscious Participants or Passive, Entitled Bystanders?

How does the assembly at prayer - your church community experience the liturgical leadership of its pastoral ministers?

Does the community see witness the people named as leaders in the service of the liturgy actively and intelligently engaged?

Or does the community experience see passivity among ministers of the liturgy?

Does the community at public prayer perceive an entitled group of benefactors who only deign to do ministry as they serve as servers, ministers of hospitality, communion ministers, readers, collectors, sacristans, priests, deacons, religious educators, guides for the rite of Christian Initiation - the myriad of leadership that begins at what the Second Vatican Council describes the source and summit of our faith - the Eucharistic liturgy – the Mass?

How do parish leaders engage in the work of the people – the liturgy - as ministers and servants of the public prayer of the Catholic Church? 

Presented on June 1, 2015 at Our Lady of Assumption Parish in New Bedford, MA by Denise Morency Gannon, BMusEd., MA, CPS.

Denise serves as the director of the Roncalli Center, founded on October 11, 2012 on the 50^th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. Denise’s professional experience in the pastoral arts and music education spans over 45 years in elementary, middle and high school, Catholic parishes, three colleges, diocesan service in clergy formation and education and leadership for pastoral musicians.

Denise maintains several blogs and has served columnist and feature writer for numerous liturgical publications. She is a composer of original music and published with World Library Publications.  

Walking through the Rite of Christian Initiation

A presentation for parishes who want to begin the process of Christian Initiation with its implications for parish life and for catechumenate teams who want to deepen their understanding of the Rite of Christian Initiation. This workshop includes practical suggestions that includes music and liturgical environment. 

This workshop requires one full day that should include a meeting space for discussion, worship space with an organ or piano and includes a lunch break for participants.  

Denise Morency Gannon 

The Ministry of the Reader: A Well Trained Tongue

“The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them.  Morning after morning God opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back.” Isaiah 50: 4

What prompts a person to leave the pew within a worshipping assembly and volunteer to proclaim the God’s word as a reader? The reasons vary with every person’s story. Whatever draws you to this ministry, know that God will accept your motivation and accomplish the goal of speaking to people’s heart through your ministry. God depends on your growing love and passion for the word of God to take root in your own heart so that God’s voice will be the one that the assembly hears when you proclaim God’s word. 

A workshop for ministers of the Word for St. Clare Parish in Westerly, Rhode Island, 2012.