Dear Parishioners, +JMJ
I hope everybody’s summer has been going well! With this bulletin letter I want to announce that Jessica Schuster has agreed to start directing our Paulding campus adult choir, beginning this Fall. The adult choir will continue to serve our Paulding Mass two Sundays per month, throughout the academic year.
Our Divine Mercy School community already knows Jessica from the semester she taught for us, just as she was graduating from the Franciscan University of Steubenville. Then, most of our musicians and cantors from all three of our campuses know Jessica, because of her participation in the various music training opportunities we have provided. Jessica attended both of the Adam Bartlett music seminars: the one held at our campus a couple years ago, and then the one presented this past fall at Saint Joan of Arc Parish in Toledo. She also presented a vocal technique seminar for our parish cantors this past February. I heard many good comments from that seminar. Then Jessica’s young adult choir presented the “Sacred Music Unveiled” seminar at our parish – the very first time it was ever presented. We were blessed to host it here.
Jessica graduated from The University of Steubenville in December 2016, having completed a triple major in Sacred Music (Voice), Theology and Catechetics. Then she taught first and second grade for one semester at our Divine Mercy School.
Currently Jessica is the founder and director of a new Catholic young adult choir, dedicated to evangelization through the beauty of music. Her choir has performed at our parish, Parkview Regional Medical Center, St. Charles Borromeo in Fort Wayne and Holy Trinity in Assumption. She teaches voice lessons for students of all ages in both the Antwerp and Toledo areas. She also teaches two music classes for students, ages 5-17, for the St. Augustine Homeschool Enrichment Program in Temperance, Michigan.
I am grateful for Jessica’s willingness to take on this ministry for us. Many of us have experienced the good work she does with her young adult choir. I think we will be very blessed by her work with our Paulding campus adult choir as well. And I think our parish will be a great fit for her gifts.
I am also extremely grateful for the work Nancy Wehrkamp has done for us for these last two years leading the choir (along with plenty of organizational help from Fritz Koch). And, of course I cannot fail to mention the decades of work with Janet Miller that the choir will be building upon. Both Nancy and Janet have agreed to stay close, to offer whatever support is needed for Jessica.
Please watch the bulletin for announcements regarding the choir, as Fall approaches.
May we all continue to put our whole heart into the worship of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with his Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass! That’s where heaven meets earth most powerfully!
Have a blessed week!
In cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Poggemeyer
