December 10, 2010
Students lead Jasper Deanery “St. Cecelia Sing” at St. Joseph Church
By PAULA ALLES (St. Joseph Church, Jasper)
John Paul the Great Catholic High School, in conjunction with St. Joseph Church, held its first annual St. Cecelia Sing, Nov. 7, at St. Joseph Church, Jasper. Father Chris Forler, associate pastor at Christ the King Church, Evansville, presided.
The memorial of St. Cecilia, patroness of music, afforded the parishes of the Jasper Deanery the opportunity to come together collectively in a national festival to raise our voices “in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in our hearts to God.”
The National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) encourages parishes, schools, dioceses and other worshiping communities to plan an event of sacred song that will be combined with the efforts of other choirs and musicians throughout the United States and beyond. In past years, musical groups have found many creative ways to come together and celebrate the gift of sacred song. The event was registered with the National Saint Cecelia Sing Registry through NPM in Silver Spring, Md.
The St. Cecelia Sing afforded an opportunity to celebrate the gift of music, praise God through song and especially, to join with others to sing Sacred music. Several songs were sung by the assembled congregation. The songs were led by cantor Mark Ginter and were accompanied by Van Ziegler at the organ.
Young people from several of the Catholic parishes in the Jasper Deanery who contribute to their parish music programs were recognized with a St. Cecelia Young Musician Award certificate.
Parish music directors, organists, choir directors and priests nominated young people for the award.
Holy Family winners were Jenny Weinzapfel, Stephanie Weinzapfel, and Brian Sonderman. Their directors are Dan Racicot, Donna Boutwell and Neil Lynch.
St. Ferdinand winners were Tempa Auffart, Lauren Blume, Leslie Blume, David Auffart and Kelsey Lange. Their directors are Susan Altman, Vita Bartley, Judy Klueh and Maureen Kemper.
Precious Blood winners were Olivia Gutgsell, Dan Kreilein, Lauren Monesmith, Ellen Backer, Kari Keeley and Greg Kreilein. Their directors are Gloria Bueltel and Sister Gloria Memering.
St. Joseph winners were Andrea Himsel, Kelly Jacob, Sarah Fuhs, Erin Luebbehusen, Phil Gootee, Taylor Reutman, Lydia Bell, Honor Hoffman, Kyle Freyberger, Hannah Gunselman and Daniel Kreilein. Their directors are Paula Alles, Mary Burke and Van Ziegler.
A freewill offering was collected for the John Paul the Great Catholic High School Scholarship Fund. A tithe from this offering was split between the National Pastoral Musicians and the Dubois County Community Meals Program.
A Jasper Deanery Choir was made up of singers from the following Jasper Deanery parishes: Precious Blood, Holy Family and St. Joseph churches in Jasper, St. Ferdinand Church in Ferdinand and St. Mary Church in Ireland. Singers of all ages were welcome to join the choir. Paula Alles, St. Joseph, Jasper, directed the group, but rehearsals were held in advance at the individual parishes.
John Ginter, a JPGCHS student and member of Holy Family Parish, played “Humoresque” by Dvorak on the violin. He was accompanied by Gloria Bueltel, Precious Blood Church, at the piano.
Sharon Gramelspacher, from St. Joseph Church, read a text from Exodus that described the people of Israel singing with joy at their salvation from slavery.
JPGCHS student Landon Weidenbenner, St. Mary, Ireland parish, read from the Book of Revelation.
Rosina Schuler, from St. Joseph Church, and students Matthew Wagner, St. Celestine Church and Harley Hopster, Trinity United Church of Christ, read the Golden Legend of St. Cecilia’s life.
Reverand Chris Forler presented the winners with their certificates, blessed them and then led the assembly in a prayer for musicians and a Litany in honor of St. Cecilia.