This episode of Ministry Monday is brought to you by OCP. OCP offers a large, comprehensive selection of seasonal and annual missals like the most popular and widely-used: Breaking Bread. If your parish community is looking for a worship resource to support full and active participation in the liturgy go to ocp.org/missals.

There are so many ways to involve a parish community in its music ministry, and not all of them, of course, include singing. Haven’t we all heard the parishioner who says, “I can’t join the music ministry - I can’t sing!” Luckily for us, music ministry today can include instrumental assistance, including a handbell choir.

In many instances, handbell choirs were the only choirs allowed in a parish setting during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a choir setting that can be accomplished without projecting the human voice. It can also be done with plenty of social distancing, if space allows. And more than anything, it provides the community of a choir without singing- a perfect option for those who want to use their musical gifts without singing.

Handbell choirs are a great option in a music ministry program, but some music ministers may not know where to start: how can I afford handbells? Who do I purchase them from? How do I teach (and direct) a handbell choir? These questions and many more are addressed in my conversation today.

Donna Kinsey has served for over 50 years as the pastoral musician for St. Francis De Sales Parish. She has taught music for public and Catholic schools in both Morgantown, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. She is also a handbell clinician and has spearheaded the National Catholic Handbell Festivals with the National Association of Pastoral Musicians.

This episode is truly a primer on starting a handbell choir. Not only that, Donna has provided a handout in the “show notes” of this episode for additional tips. If you’ve ever considered starting a handbell choir, this is the episode for you.

This episode of Ministry Monday is brought to you by CLEF – Catholic Liturgical Ensemble Formation.

The CLEF Summer Program, taking place July 23 – 28 in Milford, Ohio, is a unique opportunity for education, skill building, prayer, and community connection specifically designed for ensemble musicians, with options for an ensemble track or retreat track. For more information, visit https://clef.life.

Today we speak to Jose Gallardo, Ariel Mayormita, and Maria Nieva, members of the NPM Asian Pacific community. They share their devotional practices to the Blessed Virgin Mary and how they are inextricably woven into Filipino culture. We also speak about the importance of Saint Pedro Calungsod and his importance in Filipino spirituality as well. We encourage you to check out the show notes of this episode, as well as the video version of this episode, at ministrymonday.org.

This episode of Ministry Monday is sponsored by the NPM National Convention. The 2023 National Convention, “Walking with the Saints,” will take place in Reno, Nevada, from July 10-14 and virtually from July 18-20. Both the in person and virtual convention opportunities include prayer, learning, networking, and of course, music from which to grow and expand in pastoral ministry. Advance registration closes on June 1! For more information and how to register today, visit npm.org.

Today’s episode explores the world of pipe organ repertoire. I so often hear discussions of high-level performance pieces fit for excellent organ concerts, but so often we may not take the time to discuss an organ repertoire that’s manageable and attainable for all levels of skill, and on a pastoral musician’s available time frame for learning. Organists who may have started as pianists and are learning how to play organ, or maybe organists who are, quite frankly, overcommitted to other tasks, can find beautiful, accessible organ music that supports the Mass each week.

That is the starting point from which I begin my conversation today.