MEET JACK MARKLEY, Our I
f you ask Jack Markley how long he While music is certainly integral has been a musician, he will tell you to the liturgical experience here at St. that he can’t remember a time when Jude, many other things must haphe didn’t know how to read music. pen behind the scenes to ensure that Our new Director of Liturgy and our Masses run smoothly. In addition Music here at St. Jude Catholic Church to leading our Music Ministry, Jack comes from a family of musicians oversees the liturgical celebrations in and has himself played almost every our parish by setting up for morning instrument at one time or another, Mass, training and coordinating our though the organ remains his standlectors and Extraordinary Ministers of out favorite. An Indiana native, Jack Holy Communion, and making sure has served as a church musician up that everything in the church enviand down the East Coast, in Catholic ronment is liturgically proper and in parishes spanning from Connecticut order. to South Carolina. “In the Catholic Church, so much Jack arrived as Director of Liturgy happens in the Mass,” Jack says. and Music at St. Jude at the begin“There are little things that you don’t ning of March, bringing this wealth even think of, from Father walking St. Jude’s new Director of Liturgy and Music, Jack Markley of experience from various parishes down and venerating the altar to the with him. He has already met many gifted musicians in final prayer. There are so many little pieces that fit togethour parish and is enthusiastic about what the future holds er, and each one becomes so important to the overall flow for our Music Ministry. As pandemic restrictions begin to of the liturgy.” ease, Jack looks forward to getting our five choirs up and Both in his personal and professional life, Jack has running once more. He also hopes to establish a handbell witnessed the abundant spiritual benefits that come from choir and a small orchestra, consisting of a brass quintet greater participation in the liturgy. He would encourage all and a group of strings and woodwinds. the faithful to prayerfully consider becoming more active Jack’s exciting plans for the expansion of music minisin their faith life. try in our parish reflect the important role that music plays “The building is not the church, it’s the people,” he says. in the Catholic Church. “Getting more involved can completely change you. I was “When you look at the liturgy and count how much one of those people in high school and college that would time we have the readings, spoken prayers or the dialogue just go to Mass and sit there. I wasn’t involved in the Mass with the priest and how much time we spend singing, it’s — I just went as a communicant. Now that I’m involved, it almost equal,” Jack says. “It is designed that way. So, the has completely changed my life. I have a much more proparticipation of the community in the music is absolutely found respect and love for the liturgy because I know what vital to enjoying the entire Mass. The music brings a solem- it does and what it gives me on a day-to-day basis.” nity to the whole Mass, a sense of the sacred from heaven Happy to be back in his home state and — most espedown to us.” cially — to have landed here at St. Jude, Jack finds much to 6
