I am a big believer in the role that sacred music plays in catechesis, so I was delighted to see this blog post from Andrew Motyka, the Archdiocesan Director of Liturgical Music and Cathedral Music for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis:
Art and Music in Catechesis
Contemporary Versions of Traditional Hymns
When it comes to playing music in class, I am always torn between my desire for children to hear and learn hymns they will hear in church and songs that have more “pop” to them: a more contemporary sound. I like some Christian rock, but I feel that if I rely only on that, the kids are not being catechized for the liturgy, which is an important part of our role. With that in mind, […]
Art and Music in Catechesis
Pop-Up Catechesis: If I Were a Church Hymn
One of my favorite musicals of all time is Fiddler on the Roof. Of all the wonderful songs in that musical, my favorite is “If I Were a Rich Man,” in which Tevye dreams about what it would be like if he were a wealthy man. Over the years, I have borrowed from that title to engage people in a fun activity I call, “If I Were a Church Hymn.” In this activity, participants think […]
Art and Music in Catechesis
Singing Grace Before Meals
As I continue my quest to encourage Catholics to sing more when we gather for faith formation and various other activities in our parishes, I would like to suggest a simple melody for singing Grace before mealtime. Rather than create a new melody, I suggest we use the melody from the traditional “Agnus Dei” and use the words of our traditional Grace Before Meals prayer: Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts which we are […]
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