Our parish is a member of the Ordinariate and usually quite conservative. Recently our Catholic organist was let go and a Mormon organist/choir director was hired. I might not be so concerned about him just playing the organ, but he is also teaching choir at the parish school. Any thoughts?
I have a couple thoughts, but I first would like to welcome you to the forum : )
My Parents were Presbyterian when I was growing up. They hired a pipe-organist to play on Sundays and he was an agnostic, but boy could he play the organ. This Presbyterian Church had more congregants in their choir than there were sitting in the pews : )
The Catholic Church that my Wife and I were Married had a man who was not Catholic help with music. He was not the lead choir director (or director of liturgy I think the title was), but it was not rally an issue.
I have friends who are LDS (Mormon) and we enjoy sharing both our similarities as well as our many differences with one another. We talked about music one night after she asked what some of my favorite Catholic Hymns were. She was surprised that all of my favorite hymns were about Jesus. She joked how she thought we mostly sang songs about Mary (a common misconception among non-Catholics is that we worship Mary).
She shared some of her favorite hymns with me. I think it is important to understand that our theology is not the same when it comes to certain aspects of our Faiths. This is true of Mainline Christian Protestants as well.
There are songs in our Catholic hymnals that were written by Protestants and are a bit problematic. Other times the lyrics have been changed. The reason I know this is, because we have a former Lutheran gentleman in our weekly Catholic Bible Study and he is very musically inclined. He talks about how he misses some of the old Lutheran Hymns that he grew up singing. And when we sing a song where the lyrics have been changed from what was in his Lutheran Hymnal, he notices and will point it out. But, he is Catholic now and though he is very fond of his upbringing, he understands why the lyrics are different.
About half the men from my Men’s Group are in their Church Choir and I have to hear about the politics of music Ministry. Their previous director of Liturgy (used to play the Violin at our Church, which I loved) would choose more contemporary songs (like Matt Maher and Sara Hart, whom I love), but when they got a new Priest, he wanted more traditional Hymns (like from the 1500’s and earlier and many in Latin). These are not easy songs to learn, so I get to hear about it at Men’s Group.
The other Parish we sometimes attend seem to love the Hymns that were considered contemporary when I was a child (written in the 70’s & 80’s). One time a secular radio station played a folk song from the 70’s and I was surprised, because it was literally the same song that we used to sing at Mass (but, maybe with different lyrics).
I don’t get too worked up about Liturgical music, as long as it is done reverently and is theologically accurate. Our Friend’s Church had a drum-set and that would make me nauseous.
But, I am a sucker for the violin. The violin is a Heavenly instrument (again, if played well).
We attended Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, in Cleveland, Ohio, and the choir was made up of Professional musicians and it was transcending. We say that the Sacred Liturgy is where Heaven and Earth meet. When liturgical music is done well, it brings this reality to fruition.
What I would say about your Mormon organist is this, as long as he is not bringing into the Sacred Liturgy Hymnals from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he is talented, reverent, and a good teacher, I do not see a problem with it.
This is a great topic and I’m wondering if anyone else has a different perspective.
That is an interesting topic. Would a Morman Church hire a Catholic organist? I guess my main question would be was the service affected because the director was Mormon? Does the director understand how the liturgy often drives steers the Mass? Do you know why the Catholic organist was let go?
I think we gave the church’s keys to the jews, masonics and protestants way back, look what they did to our faith. Wondering if allowed a mormon to teach in our schools is ok? About a JW? Our woke bisshoos and popes is enough.
The school’s website says in their vision they provide “unparalleled Catholic culture.” The school has daily Mass with rotating choirs accompanying the service. All of which are led by the music director. It seems like this may be also be a justice issue. Parents are paying for a Catholic education, and they may be getting something else. The Vicar General of the Ordinariate appears to have been managing the hire and wrote a glowing announcement to the parish about hiring this guy. The Vicar General enforces the will of the Bishop. I am still very confused.
Your last paragraph states just what they want to accomplish, " Confusion" Don’t you read what comes from the pope? Confusion! I have same situation on bunch parishes near me, go to Mass on Sundays and you feel like you’re in a big club. Claping, before the comunion the peace be with you gestures is a totally disregard for what is about to take place" Comunion". We’re witnessing near end of time. Be firm, get deep Into the traditions,. Watch videos of Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, or read his substack.