Singers from across archdiocese gather at cathedral for annual tune-up

Detroit — St. Augustine of Hippo is famous for having once said, “He who sings prays twice.”

If that’s the case, choral volunteers were doubly blessed during “Summer Nights” at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament from Aug. 22-25.

The annual series, sponsored by the Detroit chapter of the National Pastoral Musicians, is a chance for choir directors and volunteers from across the Archdiocese of Detroit to meet for food, fellowship and the opportunity to sharpen their music skills before the upcoming program year.

“The idea behind ‘Summer Nights’ is a multi-night workshop, where parish volunteer choir singers come to improve their choir skills and networking,” said Kevin Ryan, Detroit chapter director of the National Pastoral Musicians. “A lot of these people aren’t music directors, just average volunteer singers. For their part, I appreciate them taking the time to get better; it’s like a mini music class.”



The four-day series at the cathedral served as a chance for the singers to meet and greet and share ideas.

Taking center stage at the altar of the cathedral on Thursday night, the choir had the chance to practice under the direction of Joe Balistreri, director of music for the Archdiocese of Detroit, as well as visiting conductor Glen Thomas Rideout, director of worship and music at First Unitarian Universalist Congregation Church of Ann Arbor.

“I was invited by NPM to host this event they have every year, to come help musicians prepare themselves for the year,” Rideout said. “There’s no one way to sing, so with choir music there is no end to learning. Be it someone who’s new or someone who’s been a music director for 10 years, they come here to get better.”

On Thursday, the group had a picnic outside the cathedral before taking a few moments to



practice and then having a prayer service with Fr. Duane Novelly, pastor of St. Matthew Parish in Detroit.

“What is your ministry about? ‘He who sings prays twice.’” Fr. Novelly told those gathered during his homily. “The more I think about that statement, the more I think of you. The relationship between priest-celebrant and the musicians, both in prayer and song, is leading an assembly of God’s people.”

Fr. Novelly said the work of pastors and music directors must be linked in order to create a prayerful atmosphere at Mass that inspires the congregation to lift their prayers to the Lord.

“They’re bookends to sacred ministry,” Fr. Novelly said. “You’re prayer leaders, gifted by God. If worshippers believe in a relationship between the priest and the musicians, they will lift their songs to the Lord. Then the songs are lifted by angels to the Lord, and then we pray twice.”

Terry Jankowski, music minister of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Monroe, appreciated Fr. Novelly’s remarks about the need for pastors and music ministers to collaborate on ideas for the proper Mass setting.

“We have a regular chaplain with the IHM Sisters, working together with the worship team, and I thinking coming together and communicating is so important,” Jankowski said. “It’s all based on the celebrating, the time of year, the Scripture readings, all of it needs to come together.” As the choral singers performed in the evening-lit cathedral, receiving pointers from Balistreri and Rideout, Ryan said the entire week speaks to the dedication of musicians across the archdiocese who have a passion for prayerful music and the desire to better themselves.

“It says a lot about their dedication, for four nights in the middle of the week, recognizing that God gifted them with music, and they’re using the gift for the glory of God,” Ryan said.