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Mary Jane Witte our Music Director 731-4220-Ext.42 MJSTBernard@aol.com |
| Wedding Music: Please contact
Mary Jane 3 months prior to wedding by phone or e-mail (see above) |
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| This item appeared in the Parish Bulletin
and on the Adult Education tab of the website Spotlighting Parish Ministries Pope Benedict has said, "Music and song are more important than an embellishment of worship; they are themselves part of the liturgical action. Sacred music...is not therefore a kind of addition that frames the liturgy and makes it more leasing, but an important means of active participation in worship." St. Bernard's is fortunate to have many volunteer music ministers who help lead us in this very important aspect of our participation in worship. We have not one, not two, but FOUR active choirs whose members give of their time and talent to help the liturgy happen. Our Children's Choir sings monthly at the 9:00 Mass, and our Teen Choir sings weekly at the Sunday 5:30 Mass. The Adult Folk Choir sings at most 9:00 a.m. Masses, and the Adult Choir sings at 10:30. All these people also practice weekly so that they can lead us in song, and also help us pray as we listen to their choral meditation songs. |
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"I have always loved to
sing and I am thankful to God for this gift. It brings me peace and it provides me the joy of interacting with others who share the same love of music. I feel that whenever someone uses the gifts God gave them to the best of their ability, they are praising the one who gave that gift." Nancy Hoare |
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| Do you love music and can carry a tune ? Are you a team player who can take directions ? Consider exploring St.Bernard's Music Ministry Contact Mary Jane Witte at mjstbernard@aol.com or call 516-731-4220 |
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| Adult Choir: Thursday evening at 7:45 pm in the
Parish Center call Mary Jane Witte - 731-4220 ext 42 |
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| Folk Choir: Wednesdays: call Carmen Greico 735-1939 for more info. | |
Children's Choir: Thursday
evening at 6:15 pm in the Parish Center. Interested in singing for our church
during Family Masses, Thanksgiving and |
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| meet our new organist, liz bailey | |
| It is my pleasure as Director of Liturgical Music to
introduce you to Liz Bailey. Liz has graciously consented to fill the
position of organist which became available upon the retirement of our
dear parishioner Mr. John Hartofil. Please take a moment to read her incredible
biography which follows. Mary Jane Witte. liz bailey I grew up on Long Island, living at various times in Malverne, Valley Stream and Garden City. I have a sister, Marie, who is two years older than I, is married, and has three children and lives in Indiana. After college, I took a position with the Tennessee Valley Authority in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, where I have worked for 31 years on air pollution issues. During most of my time in Alabama, I participated in the music ministry, playing organ and piano at two parishes. When I started, I did not know anything about the organ. I started taking organ lessons as a "community student" at the local university and ended up getting a degree in music there. A friend talked me into signing up for the Lay Ministry Program offered by the Birmingham Diocese. I met lots of enthusiastic people from other parishes and found this program to be very informative and a lot of fun. After it ended, I embarked on a Master's degree in theology from Spring Hill College, a Jesuit school, where I ended up combining my interests in environmental issues and theology, and then writing a thesis on ecotheology. (Ecotheology looks at the relationships among God, humanity and nature, especially in view of today's environmental problems.) I am very interested in other social justice issues as well. Over a ten-year period, I did a variety of things as a parish staff member of St. Joseph Church, Florence, Alabama. I have been music director, director of religious education, and director of adult education. I even organized two Vacation Bible Schools! Finally, I am an Oblate of Sacred Heart Monastery in Cullman, Alabama. (Sacred Heart is a Benedictine Monastery; an Oblate is a lay person who applies the Benedictine Rule, as best he or she can, to his or her circumstances of life.) I have two cats: Miss Trouble, a well-named orange tabby, and China, a Siamese. I also like to read a lot. Bailey family members are voracious readers. I have been impressed with St. Bernard's parish; it strikes me as a
very active community. I look forward to making a contribution in the
Music Ministry. |
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