2 minute read
Our Music Ministry: Guided by the Holy Spirit and Raising Hearts to the Lord in Song
The music that accompanies our liturgy has the power to elevate our prayer and make us more aware of Christ’s presence. For Sharon Schroepfer, the Music Coordinator for the Antigo Area Catholic Churches, her approach is simple.
“Just get involved and watch what happens on that journey,” she says. “Give all the glory to God — it makes all the difference when you sing.”
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Sharon, a parishioner at St. Wenceslaus, sings and plays the guitar at Mass. She works with the cantors and musicians at St. John and Sts. Mary and Hyacinth to plan and schedule the music at all of the churches.
Currently, Sharon is working on rejuvenating the Music Ministry after COVID-19 disrupted the choirs that sang at St. John and Sts. Mary and Hyacinth. When Mass was being livestreamed, Sharon and another musician had the idea of adding a cantor and musician. The simpler music worked well and the Music Ministry has continued to use cantors accompanied by a musician. Even though the full choirs have not yet reunited, Sharon believes having music with the Mass is invaluable.
“It helps people to actively participate in the liturgy itself,” she says. “Music moves individuals to pray and to glorify God in some form. Music helps people to unite as a church.”
Sharon has learned a lot about her ministry throughout her journey with liturgical music. She emphasizes that providing the music at Mass is not about performing as one individual.
“It’s not a performance — I stress that all the time,” Sharon says. “You’re there to glorify God. It’s not for your own self — it’s for everyone.”
When a musician comes to the liturgy with their heart in the right place, God makes great things happen. Earlier in Sharon’s Music Ministry career, a priest asked her to sing the Exsultet on Holy Saturday. That evening, Sharon was incredibly nervous. She went for a walk to calm her nerves and, on her way back, felt a sense of peace.
“When I got up there, it was as if I was alone singing,” Sharon says. “It was like there was no one in the church but me and God. It was the most amazing experience I’ve ever had.”
Sharon encourages other musicians to take the leap and trust that God will use their talents for the benefit of the whole church. “When you know that the Holy Spirit is guiding each word you sing, in a way that God is present and felt throughout the congregation — I think that it’s important for people to get to that point in every area of their life,” she says.
Sharon welcomes new voices and instrumentalists to the Music Ministry.
“We are given gifts not to keep as our own, but to share,” she says. “I feel God wants us to bless each other. Music has a way of piercing your soul deeply.”
Barb Payant and Nanette Griese, SS. Mary and Hyacinth
Joann Kekula, St. John
Lana Gray, St. John
