Visitation Parish 

Catholic Church

September 2021

Dear Visitation Parish and Friends,
It has been 18 months since the first Covid lockdown closed our Church buildings and stopped traditional Music Ministry at Visitation.  Since then, our Diocese and the State of Illinois have been responsive to the medical needs of our community and imposed various guidelines for music and mask wearing at our Worship services here at Visitation. The text on the 2 most recent guidelines from August can be accessed through the links below.
Changes to Music Ministry have been extreme as follows:

• Worship aids have been removed from the pews to prevent spreading the virus.
• Neither the congregation nor choirs are allowed to sing during liturgy. 
• Only 4 Musicians at a time may participate in Music at Mass including cantors and instrumentalists.  Wind instruments are also excluded.

We are grateful to our wonderful cantors:  Megan Drahos, Regina Gibbons, Elaine Latz, Jack & Krystyna Miuccio, Bob Ross and Susan Salgado for continuing to sing at Mass through the dark days of this pandemic.  Thanks to our flutists Debbie Verdone and Karen Boozell and hand bell choir  directed by Mary Kate McGrath who brought music before Mass during these months.  Our Parish Organist, Jim Brown has also been able to play continuously during this covid time. THANK YOU!
          
As Christians we are people of hope and preparation.  Here are some recent signs that Visitation Music is coming back!

We experienced what I am calling “A Covid Time Miracle” at Easter.  Three of our high school age singers who had all sung for 6 years in our Children’s Choirs emerged at Easter 2021 with voices changed, singing in beautiful harmony with guitar accompaniment!  This HIGH SCHOOL MEN’S VOCAL GROUP will be continuing to sing monthly at Mass.  We are blessed that their families continue to support them as they grow in Faith and share it with our Parish. 

ADULT AND CHILDREN’S CHOIRS have begun masked and distanced rehearsals. We are continuing to keep the Music of our Faith alive until we are able to return to our normal vibrant Music Ministry.  Please contact me if you are interested in participating in rehearsals.
Sing a new song to the Lord!
Barbara A. Masters, Music Director

https://www.dioceseofjoliet.org/siteimages/bishop/20210827_COVID19Guidance_StatewideMaskMandateFINAL.pdf
https://www.dioceseofjoliet.org/siteimages/bishop/20210819_COVID19_Guidelines_FINAL.pdfish

If you are interested in becoming part of our music ministry here at Visitation, please contact me for your personal interview.


Barb Masters
Director of Parish Music Ministry
barbara.masters@visitationcc.org
(630) 834-8190