Spiritual Formation for Pastoral Musicians: Disciples in Ministry

Girardot, Daniel (Author); The Catholic University of America (Degree granting institution); Wtczak, Michael (Thesis advisor); Studzinski, Raymond (Committee member); Clay, Michael (Committee member)

Degree Awarded: D.Min. Liturgical Studies/Sacramental Theology. The Catholic University of America

286

Theology; Spirituality; Religious education; Catechesis, Formation, Musician, Mystagogy, Spiritual, Worship; Liturgical Studies/Sacramental Theology

http://hdl.handle.net/1961/cuislandora:53755

http://hdl.handle.net/1961/cuislandora:53755

Catechesis; Formation; Musician; Mystagogy; Spiritual; Worship

2016-01-01T00:00:00Z

2016-01-01T00:00:00Z

The liturgical developments in the Church since the Second Vatican Council gave renewed importance to sung prayer by the faithful at Mass. The resulting significance in the leadership role of Directors of Music Ministry (DMMs) calls them to have effective and specialized formation and training. The U.S. Bishops’ guide for this formation, Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord: A Resource for Guiding the Development of Lay Ecclesial Ministry (Co-Workers), recognizes the need for DMMs to receive adequate spiritual formation - the second pillar of formation in Co-Workers (Co-Workers, p. 34). This project aimed to provide DMMs with an effective spiritual formation program, “Sound Spiritual Growth: Encountering Christ in Your Experience of Music Ministry.” It provided guidance in spiritual practices to encounter Christ and embrace ongoing conversion. The program used the methods of mystagogical reflection and theological reflection on participants’ experience of the Mass to help them grow in personal holiness and their commitment to ministry. The DMMs participated in two on-site retreats and four online spiritual formation activities. They explored the meaning and theology of each movement of the Mass and the Eucharist, and used theological reflection on their experiences of ministry at Mass. Assessments of the program reported positive experiences of renewal in faith and ministry for DMMs. They discovered new meaning in their understanding of the Mass and their ministry. The online section of the program provided an innovative experience of spiritual growth for most DMMs, with benefits that offset the technical challenges of the web-based format. The positive effects of the program in the DMMs’ lives and ministry affirm the candidate’s belief that spiritual formation using experiences of the Mass and the sacramental encounter with Christ as an entry point, can build the faith of all lay ecclesial ministers and indeed the whole Church.

Dissertation

Girardot_cua_0043A_10749.pdf

The Catholic University of America

2016