By Josh Low
Using music to unify the individual members of the liturgical assembly into a worshipping body will be one of the key messages at the upcoming annual Australian Pastoral Musicians Network (APMN) Conference to be held in October this year.
Held for three days from 5 to 7 October at the Rendezvous Hotel, Scarborough, the theme of this year’s Conference is ‘Sing with Joy! United in Diversity’.
Director of the ACU Centre for Liturgy and Chair of the National Liturgical Music Board and keynote speaker for this year’s Conference, Professor Clare Johnson said that the APMN Conference will provide rich and exciting opportunities to its attendees.
“It is an exciting opportunity to bring together many of those who are deeply involved and passionate about the essential role music plays in Catholic liturgical celebrations, as well as in other types of non-liturgical Church gatherings such as praise and worship concerts, catechesis, devotional prayer, retreats and personal prayer,” she said.
“It will also help in learning more about making appropriate music choices for liturgical and non-liturgical settings, how to perform it well and minister musically to the needs of particular communities.”
With her keynote speech titled, ‘So let us all with one accord: Music as ecclesial glue’ Prof Johnson says she will discuss how music serves to bind the individual members of the liturgical assembly into a united worshipping body.
“Joining our voices together in song unites us in a way nothing else can as we work as one, cooperating together to produce a joyful, ordered and focused form of enacted prayer which (when done well) is simultaneously a statement of faith and a creative act of artistry and beauty, offered in glory of God.
“Accomplishing such a work of prayer together generates positivity and elevates our spirits in a unified act praising God,” she said.
“Singing God’s praise and making musical prayer is and has always been a characteristic means of expressing and reinforcing both our Catholic identity and our faith.”
APMN Vice President and Conference Convenor for Western Australia, Angela Gorman (Bendotti) said that her personal journey background in music, education and theology, love for Jesus and deep passion to invite others into a deeper relationship with the Lord has been of great benefit to her in preparing for the conference.
Mrs Gorman said it was a great privilege to convene this conference and to be involved from a grassroots level and added that the conference will have something for everyone and explained who could benefit from attending.
“Those involved in music, those in leadership in the Church and in Catholic schools and indeed anyone who would like to deepen their knowledge and understanding of music and how it can be applied in so many parish and school settings can gain a great deal.
“You may be wondering how to go about starting a choir, how to set up a liturgy team, how to get a worship team together, how to apply good music to Religious Education lessons, how to lead a staff prayer or perhaps you are in need of some inspiration or an update on your keyboard/organ skills.
“Others still may be curious as to what this APMN Conference is all about. I warmly encourage and invite anyone interested in music and our faith to consider registering for this conference,” she concluded.