I am delighted, blessed, and humbled to be the new music teacher for St. Brigid School. I have been a church musician all my life. There are vivid memories of being a toddler and going to church with my godmother at Our Lady of Refuge in the Bronx. She tried so hard to get me to face forward and look at the priest, but I was always standing in the pew facing backwards, looking up at the organ pipes in the choir loft. I knew, even then, I wanted to play that organ.I began playing at St. Rita Church in Dayton at age 10. My responsibility was the 6:30 a.m. weekday Mass, and I played it daily until I graduated from high school. In those days I was so short I had to totter on the edge of the bench and stretch with my toes to play the pedals. And it’s not so much different today. God has blessed me with many things, but not long legs. I went off to college to study music at DePaul University in Chicago and received my bachelor’s degree in sacred music and music therapy. While there, I was the music director of Our Lady of Victory Parish for 14 years. One of the wonderful things about starting a job like that at age 18 is that the word “can’t” hasn’t become part of one’s vocabulary. So my choir folks and I presented beautiful, prayerful and challenging music at Mass and for special concerts. After a few years, the elderly nun who taught music in the elementary school retired. I found myself teaching 22 classes of music each week and surprisingly loving it. I also worked part time for the Chicago Park District directing musicals for children and adults.
I came back to Ohio to to work in state government and was an administrator for a safety and education program. I served several churches part-time while working for the state, but took early retirement in order to go back to full-time church music and teaching.
A few years ago, I felt it was important to update and expand skills that are essential in serving God’s people. I attended and graduated from Trinity Seminary in Columbus with a master’s degree in church music, and a second master’s degree in youth and family ministry. I have spent the last two years in New York City serving a large parish as the director of music and liturgy and teaching in the school. I’ve always been a city person and I enjoy
walking through neighborhoods admiring the magnificence of the buildings, the diversity of the people and the glorious cacophony of the sounds of the city. But I discovered all that does not compare to the joys of being with family. And so I’ve come back home.I purchased a fixer-upper house in Xenia a year ago and with monthly visits and help from family have slowly been making it livable. I believe it is an old schoolhouse, and it is listed on maps that date to 1855.
A few other things – I have one son, Michael. He and his wife, Kelli, have an adorable three-year-old toddler, Elliott. I have a 12 year old cat, Violetta, and sometime in September I hope to find and adopt an older dog. I love theater and opera, have a large doll collection, ride motorcycles and am a life-long Yankees fan. I know that for those who truly desire to serve God and God’s people, God places us exactly where we need to be. One of my favorite authors is an American theologian, Frederick Beuchner. He wrote, “The place that God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness meets the world’s deep needs.” I look forward to St. Brigid Parish being my deep gladness as I work to serve God’s children here with my music and in every way that God intends.