2 minute read
The St. Boniface Music Ministry: A Heartfelt Prayer Experience
Though we often get involved in ministries based on the talents we already possess, sometimes stewardship happens in reverse. We see a need in the church and acquire the skills needed in order to help fill it. This has been the case for longtime parishioner Evelyn Schroeder, accompanist and music leader for St. Boniface’s 5 p.m. Saturday vigil.
“When our little church started, we didn’t have any music,” Evelyn says. “I wanted to make sure we had music and so I began teaching myself how to play the piano. I just think music is so important in tying everything together and brining unity to the congregation who sing along. And so I wanted tohelp make that possible.”
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Evelyn has continued to serve in this capacity for over 20 years, alongside her husband, Danny Schroeder, who serves as the lead singer. She says the group has changed over the years, splitting up into smaller musical groups so as to provide music for the other Masses that have been added over the years. While the group dynamics have changed, Evelyn says the spiritual aspect of her ministry has remained constant, bringing tremendous blessings and satisfaction to her life.
“It’s a very spiritual experience for me,” Evelyn says. “I feel like that’s what God wanted me to do. Music is, to me, a very important part of the Mass. It stirs up emotion. You can just feel it in your heart. And when I play for the solemn Mass, it really increases my overall devotion.”
Never a performance, Evelyn and her team of musicians are simply there to help lead the congregation in prayer — for in the words of St. Augustine, “When you sing, you pray twice.”
“That’s why we really encourage all people to help sing along, whether they are in the choir or not,” Evelyn says. “Jesus sang before He went to Gethsemane — He sang with the disciples. So if we are going to model ourselves after Him, it would be nice to help the choir along.”
It’s been an added blessing for Evelyn to be able to lead music with her husband all these years and now her daughter. It’s provided extra unity to her family as they give of their time and talent together.
“I don’t think there is anything more special than singing with your family,” Evelyn says. “That brings extra unity in the family. We practice here at home before we go up to church a lot of times.”
We appreciate Tom and Angie Tran who coordinator music for the 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning English Mass. We also appreciate so very much Gregorio and Florina Rojas who have coordinated the music for our Spanish Mass for many years. We are grateful for all our music leadership which helps us worship God through song!
