SPARKS Catholic Music Ministry in Maine

Follow the journeys of eight people as they reflect on their years of serving in music ministry in the Catholic Church in Maine. From the musings of a retired pastor to the prayer of a Catholic lay woman, the question, "Why don't our Catholic parishioners sing?" echoes through this book. Stories of successes and failures in liturgical music resound through the pages. In their stories we glean wisdom through their experiences.
This book is meant to challenge and motivate anyone interested in liturgical music. It is a call to musicians, singers, and songwriters to step out of the box and engage in the Liturgy. We hope this is a spark that lights a fire of inspiration under pastors, music directors, cantors, choirs, and congregations as they look for ways to improve participation in the celebration of the Mass in their parishes.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill us with your fire!

An anthology featuring contributions by Ed Boucher, Father Reggie Brissette, Helene Fortier, Daniel Ladner, Lynn Desmond LeVasseur, Jean Miniter O'Keefe, Louis Philippe and Pam Vaillancourt.
My name is Arthur Louis Edouard Boucher. I was born April 27th, 1945, at St Mary's General Hospital in Lewiston, Maine. Soon after, I was baptized at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, now a Basilica. While my mother was delivering me on one floor at St. Mary's, my father, Edouard, was fighting cancer on another floor. His battle ended on July, 1945.
Being born in 1936 allowed me to experience the Church and its worship before the Second Vatican Council. Way before! My family was faithful in attending Church every Sunday. Our little country parish had two Masses every Sunday. Those were the days before the Saturday afternoon Mass came into being.
At a recent Mass where I have been organist for 23 years, a woman came up to me with a John Schaum piano book, level C. I first wanted to tell her that I no longer taught piano, that Covid had done me in. After all, I had taught piano and organ for many years and I was tired to trying to inspire students to practice and reach for higher goals. Most lost interest when it became too hard. Well, luckily, I didn't go into that diatribe: the book she presented me was my own book from 1962 when my piano teacher, Sr. St. Rita of St. Joseph's Convent in Biddeford, signed my certificate!!! Oh my!!! I was 10 years old!!! So much water under the bridge!!!
Little did I know when I started playing the organ in 1951 at The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Presque Isle that I would still be playing here 72 years later! As 35, 45, 50 years clicked by, I still didn't think I would make it to 72 years, but all of a sudden, here I am—just like the Energizer Bunny—still going strong with no intentions to stop. Maybe I'll make it to 80 years.
Growing up Catholic, I am delighted to say I had a wonderful experience. So much so that I am certain most of my comfort and feelings of safety and security came from my Catholic upbringing.
My name is Jean O'Keefe and I am the only contributor to this book who is not a liturgical musician or a cleric. As such, this essay will contain my experience as a layperson. My professional background is in religious education. Therefore, much of my experience has been using music as catechesis. This is quite different from liturgical music which is meant to serve the liturgy. Of course, there are overlapping aspects such as children's liturgies which often include teaching the truths of the faith as well as worship and praise in support of the liturgy. I have also spent many years sitting in the pew observing and participating in liturgical celebrations. In addition, I have been fortunate enough to have belonged to various choirs over the years. This essay will hopefully include all those many and varied experiences along with any wisdom I have gleaned along the way. I have worked in two parishes in the Archdiocese of Hartford Connecticut and two parishes of the Diocese of Portland Maine. These musings encompass about 25 years of professional experience plus a lifetime of scrutiny from the pew.
When I reflect upon all the people, places, events, and experiences of my life, I realize they were all perfectly engineered stepping stones that would lead my spiritual journey to a life-changing relationship with Jesus. Nothing—good, bad, or ugly—was accidental or coincidental. Rather, everything was part of God's master plan. For me, music is "The Ointment in The Anointment," the conduit through which the Holy Spirit reaches human beings, and I was called to serve God by making music for him to use to reach people. Thank you, God! 2 Kings 3:15: "But now bring me a musician." Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him.
My journey into music ministry started before I was even aware of it. I was born in April of 1971, and was only four days old when I was baptized. My Godparents also consecrated me to the care of the Blessed Virgin and basically offered me and my talents to be used in a way that would honor Mary's Son, our Lord Jesus. I only learned of this years later and thought "Wow, no wonder my life has gone in the direction it has."