St. John Bosco Center Choir & Ensemble at UMW

05/05/2023

04/21/2022

This week we start with Kathleen dM., who joined our CCM Choir this Fall of 2022, in her freshman year of college. Kathleen has enjoyed singing with our choir for the past two semesters. This year she has been appointed President of the UMW Catholic Campus Ministry (in her sophomore year); so she will have to step down from choir in order to fulfill her new leadership role in our student community. We wish Kathleen many blessings, and we hope she will return.

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I felt compelled to sing with the student choir because I remembered loving being in the teenaged girls choir at my old parish (St. John the Beloved, McLean). I think that the music and singing at mass is such a beautiful way to glorify God; and I find it so cool that I got to be a part of it again this year. I love the sense of community that is present among the choristers; often the rehearsals are so full of joy. I also love how many of the pieces help others worship God; and I think it is such a blessing that we can do that.

A lot of the songs make me fall more in love with Catholicism and deepen my understanding and appreciation for the faith. Sometimes I will have a song we have sung stuck in my head, and it will make me think more about what the song is conveying. I think that college students who are thinking about joining the choir should definitely try it out; there are lots of fun moments about singing in choir, and it is so awesome that you can use your gifts to serve our Lord in this way!

04/06/2022

This week we start with the testimonial of Maria F., who joined our CCM choir in the Fall of 2022. Maria works as a policy analyst overseeing the criminal justice and behavioral health portfolio at the US Department of Justice (Bureau of Justice Assistance); this portfolio entails grant programs, policy, and national initiatives to improve and enhance community responses to people with behavioral health conditions who come into contact with the justice system. She is married to Jeremy, a current medical pilot (who retired from the US Army) and has three children: Nathan (a US Navy instructor pilot), Stefan, and Cora (both currently studying in college, as of 2022). Maria is very much young at heart.

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After many years of happily singing with the Contemporary Choir of St. Mary (in Fredericksburg), and following a series of unhappy events, including the [coronavirus] pandemic, I was attending Mass at my home parish and not participating in a parish choir from 2020 through the spring of 2021. It was as if my prayers through music were hushed.

One evening, after 5pm Mass ended (on a Saturday evening), the Choir Director of the Catholic Campus Ministry, David, introduced me to the idea of volunteering with the student choir. I was very much out of practice, and not used to singing the traditional-style classical music that required technical training. David was very accommodating, and he spent time to help me get up to speed in preparation for singing with the student choir.

I really appreciate volunteering with the student choir because their love for the Lord is so true and honest; being yourself is all that is required to participate. To me, they give back the love that He gave them first by making a gift (and sacrifice) of their time to praise Him with their voices at Mass, even during exam times. I have learned, through being a small part of this dedicated group, that even when life gets sad, or a little unpredictable, everything falls into place by giving your talents back to God. Even if we think the workload or school load is too great to add anything extra, this ministry, no doubt, gives students more grace, love, and support than any course load could heap on. Being a CCM choir volunteer has increased my faith through the "simple acts" of students who give all their love to God and each other through song.

04/28/2021

This week we start with the brief testimonial of Kierian L., who joined our CCM choir this Spring of 2021. Kierian is a commuter student at Germanna Community College, studying education. She also works full-time as a dental assistant. (Though she is on a long break from school right now, she is taking miscellaneous classes.)

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- What brought you to sing with the student choir?

I first joined the CCM choir this semester after being personally invited by David, our director. I had sang for the choir at my home parish for a little while and David reached out to me about singing with the other students.

- What did you like about singing with the student choir?

I am so thankful for being involved in our music ministry and have also made friends through my involvement. I have always loved music and being able to incorporate one of my hobbies as a way to serve the Lord has been just amazing.

- Has the experience helped you grow in your (Catholic) faith (or have your faith rekindled)? If so, how?

Being a choir member has helped me understand specific parts of the liturgy that I had never understood until now. I had never paid close attention to special feast days or Mass settings, etc. until they recently peaked my interest! I am a cradle Catholic, but I am now seeing the order of the Mass through a different lens - very cool!

- What advice would you give to college students who are not sure about getting involved in a campus ministry choir?

My best piece of advice would be to always pray before making commitments, but of course it can never hurt to try out a new ministry! You never know what friends you will find :) The music ministry (at the CCM) adapts to individuals, no matter what their skill level may be. We all have the same goals of worshipping God through our given talents, growing as a community, and having fun!

04/27/2021

This week we start with the testimonial of Sydney M., who joined the Choir & Ensemble (UMW Catholic Campus Ministry) back in the Fall of 2018. As of 2021, Sydney is in her Junior year, and will start her Senior year this Fall and graduate next year in the Spring of 2022. Sydney is studying history as an academic major, and pursuing music study as an academic minor. This Fall, she will serve as assistant for the choir.

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Sydney:

I joined the music ministry at the CCM after talking to our previous campus minister, Katrina Oteyza. I told her that I was participating in the school choir and she suggested I join the music ministry here.

I’m so glad she recommended it to me. Before I joined the choir, I was a bit nervous about making friends, so joining a group really helped. I have made so many friends through involvement in the choir, with whom I know I will always keep in touch. I even found my roommate through the music ministry!

I love singing in general, so being able to participate in this group is wonderful. Participating in the music ministry has helped me spend more time in a church setting and meet others who share my faith. Because of the choir, I have made friends who encourage me to be a better Catholic and participate in other activities at the CCM, like Women’s Discernment Group. I have had such a fun time in the past three years I had been in the choir, and I can’t wait to see how we continue growing.

04/26/2021

This week we start with the testimonial of Theresa V., one of our first members to join the Choir & Ensemble (UMW Catholic Campus Ministry) back in the Fall of 2017. As of 2021, Theresa is in her Senior year, studying Biology, but has one more semester in the Fall of 2021 to complete before she graduates, due to the Pandemic. In her Sophomore and Junior years, she has served as assistant for the choir, making sure things are set up for rehearsals.

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When I first came to Mary Washington, I initially saw the Catholic Campus Ministry as just a place where I would be able to go to Mass on Sunday. I joined choir because I saw it as a way to ensure that I was at Sunday Mass. What ended up happening was that I joined a group of people who were strong in their faith, and who encouraged me to do the same through sheer proximity. Being a part of the choir connected me to the community at the CCM, and gave me inroads to other events, such as the Sunday Talk series, Supper Social, Adoration, and Daily Mass. It was through involvement in the choir that I met many of my friends. and served in various committees in the CCM.

I enjoy the opportunity that the music ministry provides to use my talents – both singing and playing the flute – to give back to the community, and help with improving my abilities. I enjoy much of the music we perform, and though some pieces are more difficult than others, it is always worth the effort in the end.

When I first came to Mary Washington, I only really went to Mass on Sundays. I wasn’t familiar with the idea of attending daily Mass, or even praying regularly. Because of the connections I made in the choir, I was able to grow in my faith to the point where I am attending daily Mass with regularity and working to improve my life of prayer.

-- Theresa

04/26/2021

This week we will post testimonials of the St. John Bosco Center Choir & Ensemble. The testimonials ask three important questions:

- What brought you to sing with the student choir?

- What did you like about singing with the student choir?

- Has the experience helped you grow in the (Catholic) faith (or have your faith rekindled)? If so, how?

These testimonials provide insight into what encouraged students to join the SJBC Choir, and also help its members put things in perspective, looking back.