Donna M. Cole

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

These words from John 14:1 are encouraging, but how hard we struggle with them. We find so much to be troubled about. Economic hardship, catastrophic natural events, violence, war, intolerance, disease, loss, and loneliness are just a few of the many things troubling our hearts. It’s right and just that these and other tragedies should touch our hearts, that they should indeed pass through our church doors spread wide in welcome. Our hearts should be open to the suffering in our midst as well as the joy.

We are living through troubling times in our world and in our church. In past years, ML has filled the pages of this music ministry issue with articles by leading pastoral musicians who were excited by the next page in music ministry. There were always new texts to explore, new perspectives on ritual forms, new ideas, and renewed purpose. Not this time. In the past, pastoral musicians were joined here by liturgists who wrote about the integration of various musical forms into the liturgy, enhancing ritual elements through sung prayer. Now, no one wants to take the chance of saying the wrong thing and being censured for it. For example, we know that we will receive a new Roman Missal and that as a result of the translation most of the musical settings of the common of the Mass (music we have come to love and know by heart for years) will cease to exist. That’s troubling. It’s very troubling to the hearts of pastoral musicians who have devoted countless years to building up repertoires of Mass settings for their assemblies that for the most part will be discarded. It’s troubling when people who are fine musicians, fine pastoral people, and solid theologians are replaced by individuals who have no formation but can play “what the people want to hear.” It is very troubling that the people with the right training, the right skills, the right formation, and a close connection to the Holy Spirit are considered too threatening, too challenging, too subversive for parish life.

Recognizing that some concrete methods of support might be helpful, we’ve included two articles toward that end. In a special chapter from her Divine Adventure series, Joni Woelfel offers a feature on depression, with reflection questions and suggested reading material on how to support those who suffer with this. Depression affects a broad spectrum of people, but we must be especially aware of its taking hold among our disheartened people in ministry. Michael Castrilli, OSFS, in the first of a two-part series, demonstrates how to apply Salesian spirituality in the workplace.

“’Where [I] am going you know the way.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?’” (Jn 14:4–5). Thomas’s question seems very real to many of us right now. The sacrifices we made to prepare ourselves, to study, to practice, and to learn seem nearly meaningless. The confidence that knowledge and proficiency once gave us seems as dust. It is truly heart-troubling, and the way ahead seems obscure, but there is surely a way through this darkness. It may be unconventional, unexpected, or even undreamt of yet. With the certainty that Jesus is indeed “the way and the truth and the life” (14:6), in faith, we will find our way. 

We’ve come this far by faith Leaning on the Lord Trusting in His Holy word He never failed me yet Oh can’t turn around We’ve come this far by faith. (Albert A. Goodson, “We’ve Come This Far by Faith,” 1993 Manna Music, Inc.)

ML

We’re Still Green: ML remains a “Paper Hero” on Green America’s Paper Project website (www.coopamerica.org/programs/woodwise/publishers/heroes/index.cfm) because it is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper.

SUBSCRIBE NOW!