As
leaders of sung prayer, liturgical musicians provide
a valuable contribution that is both necessary
and integral to the liturgy. Music enriches
the liturgy and enhances the people's prayer by
communicating ideas and intuitions that words alone
cannot give. For more information pertaining to music ministry, please contact rachelle.kramer@marquette.edu.
The Marquette Liturgical
Choir is an ensemble of over fifty
committed members whose main purpose is to sing
for the
weekly 4 p.m. liturgy at Gesu as well as All-University
liturgies
held on major feast days. Rehearsals are
held Wednesday
evenings
from 5:15-7:00 p.m. in the Chapel of the
Holy Family.
Students in this
ensemble make a yearly retreat, provide
outreach to the community, and perform in both
a Christmas and
spring concert.
Cantors
Cantors
are needed for Sunday liturgies,
All-University liturgies, and St. Joan of Arc liturgies. Training
is provided for new and experienced cantors
each year to improve musical skills, examine
their role as a cantor, and sing and pray
with other students who share their ministry.
Cantor auditions for new cantors are held the first week of classes.
Small
Ensembles
Small
ensembles provide music for the weekday
10 p.m. St. Joan of Arc liturgies, the Sunday
evening Masses, the
4 p.m. Mass at Gesu and the 8 and 10 p.m. Masses located in the Chapel
of The Holy Family. All ensembles
rehearse approximately one hour prior to
the liturgy.
Instrumentalist
For
the three Sunday Masses and All-University
Liturgies there are opportunities for students
to provide instrumental music. Because
of the rich diversity of God's church, voices
and instruments of all kinds are welcome
to music ministry at Marquette. Contact Rachelle Kramer to set up an audition.
Ministers
of Hospitality
These
students welcome those who gather for worship and
help create an appropriate Mass environment. They also distribute worship aids, coordinate the
collection and the offertory procession, and distribute
the University Ministry Bulletin. The ministry
of hospitality is an important way to embody the
spirit of Christian Community.
These women and men participate in the 4 p.m. Mass
at Gesu and at all-University liturgies by assisting
the presider at the altar and attending to
the details of the Liturgy. Through their
reverent service at the Mass, altar servers act
as strong and faithful witnesses within the community.
Each
year, more than 100 students volunteer to
be ministers of Bread and Cup for the Sunday and
all University liturgies on campus. This ministry
is about offering the Body and Blood of Christ to
those who gather and inviting those who receive
the Body and Blood of Christ to be changed into
the Body of Christ - the Church.
The
proclamation of the Word of God is central to every
liturgy. Lectors lead the community to encounter
God through the scriptures. These women and
men are called to proclaim a living Word which speaks
to people's lives in a way that comforts and challenges,
admonishes and encourages.
These
students work closely with the Director of Liturgy
to prepare for worship events on campus. Their
responsibilities include setting up of Mass, Helping
create appropriate liturgical environments and coordinating
other liturgical ministers. This ministry
involves a lot of the behind-the-scenes work and
is vital to Marquette's worship life.
Liturgy
Preparation Team
For
an event to run smoothly, many preparations need
to happen beforehand. Liturgy is no different. The foundation of any preparation of the liturgical
celebration is reflection upon the Word of God
- the scripture reading. Preparation Committee
members bring their own life experiences to this
reflection, helping to answer the question: "What
do these readings (the Word of God) have to say
to what is happening in our daily lives?" With this reflection as a basis for decision-making,
those preparing the liturgy are then able to make
decision about the music, the petitions, the environment,
and propose suggestions for the homily.
