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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2010 /  Musical styles reflect diversity of our faith

by Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Published July 2, 2010

Kristin Lukowski | The Michigan Catholic Louis Canter, the archdiocese's coordinator of music ministires and core committee chairman for the upcoming NPM conference, says there's something for everyone who is interested in attending.

DETROIT — Handbells, chant and organ are certainly the more recognized form of liturgical music. But what about electric guitar? Gospel music? Traditional African melody?

As long as the music is liturgically, pastorally and musically sound, music ministers can use what they feel is appropriate for Mass and the community, said Louis Canter, the archdiocese's coordinator of music ministries. Canter has close at hand in his office "Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship," a Church document detailing the revision of Catholic liturgical music, approved by the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops in 2007. Among its points, it addresses particulars such as music in Catholic schools, in other languages, and for other cultures.

He compared the different types of music used in liturgy — chant, Latin, contemporary — as items we would put in a wagon, "that through the Holy Spirit, we're pulling."

In fact, just after the National Association of Pastoral Musicians conference, there will be one focusing on the Latin Mass, which is another example of the different music styles in the Church, Canter pointed out.

"Within the Archdiocese of Detroit, every one of them works," Canter said. And regardless of the type of music used, "When the liturgy is done well, it helps faith to grow."

In a week and a half, musicians from all over the area, state and country will be gathering for the National Association of Pastoral Musicians' National convention, held in downtown Detroit and at nearby parishes. Music ministers, choir members and anyone from the pew — since we are all affected by the music in our parishes — are welcome to attend the educational sessions, performances, keynote speeches, exhibits and more.

The NPM schedule recognizes the variety of music offered in parishes, with chant and handbell institutes offered throughout the week, as well as the chance to attend organ concerts. "I think the NPM recognizes there's a place for everything and for everybody musically," said Aaron Kaleniecki, music minister at St. Aloysius Parish and St. Patrick Parish, in downtown and midtown Detroit, has worked a variety of music into his liturgies.

Canter, who is also core committee chairman for the upcoming conference, said ideally, liturgical music is a collaborative effort between the music minister, the pastor and parishioners. The pastor would share his sermon for the weekend, and the music minister would select appropriate and relevant songs with feedback from parishioners and the pastor, while keeping in mind what the community needs to hear at that time, he said.

Although some parishes may like to use the same songs or songs from the same time frame, if it serves the community at that time and it works for them, then that's fine. "If it works, then it works," he said.

"Sing to the Lord" creates the boundaries that pastoral musicians work within, based on three judgments: liturgical, if a song enhances the liturgy; pastoral, if it benefits the gathered community; and musical, if it is a sound piece of music. That is the document that makes it clear popular music isn't appropriate for weddings or funerals, since it offers nothing liturgically.

Although he gets many calls asking if something is appropriate for Mass, he also is contacted about resources if a parish is trying to do something new, he said, especially as the cultural makeup of parishes becomes more diverse. In fact, for the ordination of six priests in May, one song was a nod to a priest's homeland of Cameroon. "People see that and say, 'We could use that at our church,'" he said.

Kristin Lukowski | The Michigan Catholic Among the instruments used by Aaron Kaleniecki, music minister at St. Aloysius Parish, downtown Detroit, is a harpsichord.

Kaleniecki, at St. Aloysius Parish, has used an eclectic style of music ministry since he came to the parish in January. Any given Sunday, people might be participating in Gregorian chant, a traditional hymn, or a song in Spanish.

"I want the music I select and use to be reflective of the people," he said.

Kaleniecki shies away from the structure of one contemporary Mass and another traditional Mass over the weekend, for example, instead looking to work many styles into one celebration. One person might take a spiritual experience from one style of music, while another person is moved by a different type of song.

He likes to incorporate chant into Mass, and although some may feel chant is more prayerful than clapping hands, that doesn't mean everyone will. "People benefit from leaning and knowing about music," he said. "The only way we can learn and know is by singing it."

Kaleniecki uses the parish's organ and even its harpsichord for musical accompaniment. He found parishioners responded well to more upbeat music, so he expected complaints when using a more traditional repertoire for the Ash Wednesday Mass celebrated by Archbishop Allen Vigneron. None came.

"I think music really is the vehicle by which you can define how diverse a liturgy is," he said.

Michigan Catholic file photo Mario Amore, a seminarian and former music minister, said he likes using different musical styles during liturgy.

Mario Amore, a seminarian going into his second year of pre-theology this fall, is the former music minister at Our Lady of the Woods Parish, Woodhaven, and is also part of the core committee of the NPM conference. He said he also tried to use a good mix of musical styles, getting a good response from contemporary songs.

"You're appealing to everyone there and not just one group of people," he said.

He said part of making liturgical music relevant is how it's presented; even the most joyful song played like a dirge won't reach people. "Do it with spirit and heart to bring alive the message of the song," he said.

Looking toward the days when he is a priest, he said he hopes to be involved in the musical part of the liturgy, working alongside the music minister. "I would really try to empower that person to make that ministry alive in the parish," he said. "(We can) make it important part of the liturgical celebration."

Michigan Catholic file photo Fr. Joe Dailey, pastor of Christ the Redeemer Parish, Lake Orion, and musician and recording artist, said the Church is a variety of peoples and cultures.

Fr. Joe Dailey, pastor of Christ the Redeemer Parish, Lake Orion — as well as a musician and recording artist in his own right — agreed with the concept of using many musical styles to represent the diversity of the Catholic Church. "Because we're Catholic, we try to use a variety of musical styles, since the Church is a variety of peoples and cultures," he said. "We try to use all the languages of the Church."

Fr. Dailey also likes to use many styles during the same Mass. "We try not to segregate and segment the community," he said. "It's always felt to us like we shouldn't have a youth Mass — we should have Mass, and there will be some youth there, seniors there. All of us come together in prayer."

Fr. Dailey said the parish has a strong tradition of singing — including by its pastor — and as a result, that has drawn other musicians to the parish. And that opens even more musical doors for Sunday worship.

"We have a whole small orchestra going," he joked, ranging from drums to organ. "Catholic tradition has all that variety. We say, 'We're not (one) culture — we're a universal Church."