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How Paul Koleske adds his music to the Mass!
By paul | September 10, 2008
As a Contemporary Christian musician who is Catholic, I take great care in trying to make a contribution to each Mass I play at.
To keep my music as an addition or contribution to the Mass (rather than a performance or sideshow), I play a song entitled ‘CELEBRATE THE MASS” as a prelude to the Mass. The song is 4 minutes long so it begins 4 minutes before the Mass starts. Some churches I visit have announcements before Mass begins so that is taken into consideration as well.
When I visit a parish, the Music Director/Liturgist and his/her cantors conduct all of the Mass parts just like any Sunday. I am allowed to do the Offertory and Communion songs. For greater congregation participation I may do a Communion meditation instead of the Communion song.
For those Music Directors/Liturgists that want the congregation to sing at all times, I do an Offertory song entitled ‘THANK YOU LORD’, and I can have the congregation sing the chorus with me. The chorus is very easy to learn and I can teach it to them before Mass begins.
Sometimes parish leadership is totally opposed to bringing in anyone “from outside the parish” for a special event, especially when the individual wants to introduce their music to the parishioners through participation in the Mass. This is so sad.
There are thousands and thousands of gifted Music Directors/Liturgists in the united states of America! And with all due respect (if you shy away from “sharing the music platform at Mass”), I ask you to reconsider what it would mean to allow just one or two songs, on one weekend, out of the whole year or several years, to allow your congregation to experience a special addition of a fellow Catholic’s expression of our shared faith. I bet Jesus would say; “include him”, to hear how His inspiration is manifested in song through one of His sheep.
I believe that’s why God allows more than one radio station on every one’s radio dial.
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