I thought it was important to write a blog post about all the duties that are involved in my role as music minister, particularly since it is such a multifaceted job that is often underappreciated. A lot goes into what I do, far beyond just singing beautifully. It’s a dynamic role filled with responsibilities that enrich the spiritual experience of the congregation. Here’s a glimpse into what my duties look like on a weekly basis:

Monday

My week begins with planning ahead for the upcoming liturgical services: Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesday evening and Mass on Sunday evening. I first reach out to my music ministry volunteers to ascertain which instruments I will have. This allows me to choose a rehearsal time for adoration that works well for everyone and informs what type of songs I pick out for both adoration and Mass. Typically, on Monday I only choose the music for adoration, though. There is so much that goes into solely that aspect of it, which I will likely cover in a future blog post. I then have to gather the sheet music for the songs and print out copies for everyone. In the evening, I lead a practice where we rehearse the adoration songs.

Tuesday

On Tuesday, I put together and print out sheets with the lyrics for the adoration music that are set out for people to grab if they want to sing along from the congregation. That evening, I arrive early to set up all the music equipment and run a sound check before the liturgical service begins. At the beginning of the service, I lead everyone in singing O Salutaris Hostia to welcome the Eucharistic presence of Jesus. Then, we sing our first two songs, followed by a fifteen to twenty-minute break for silent prayer, with our other two songs coming after that. To begin the benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, I lead the congregation in singing Tantum Ergo. As the Eucharist is being put to repose in the tabernacle, we all sing Holy God, We Praise Thy Name. After adoration, I clean up and put away all the music equipment that we used. Later that night, I take time to choose songs for Mass on Sunday. Once I pick out the music, I send out a message to our music ministry group chat with the list of songs and a link to a folder with the sheet music for them to look over before we practice the following day.

Wednesday

Once Wednesday rolls around, a lot looks similar to the preparation for adoration. I print out enough copies of the sheet music for the Mass music for everyone that I expect to come to our practice that night. We rehearse at the same time every week, after men’s and women’s groups, for around an hour.

Sunday

Sunday is the highlight of every week for me as a music minister. Like on Tuesdays for adoration, on Sunday I put together and print out lyric sheets for the Mass hymns. That afternoon, I set up the music equipment and lead one more practice to run through the songs with everyone. Then that evening during Mass, we sing the processional hymn, Kyrie, Gloria, responsorial psalm, gospel acclamation, offertory hymn, Sanctus, Memorial Acclamation, Amen, Agnus Dei, communion hymn, and recessional hymn. Afterward, I gather up the music equipment and put it away.

The cycle then repeats for a new week! And all of that is on top of my other Student Minister for Liturgy duties under the umbrella of being the sacristan, which includes recruiting, training, and scheduling lectors, altar servers, and Eucharistic Ministers; preparing materials for Mass and Eucharistic Adoration; and composing the Prayers of the Faithful.

I want to emphasize that this detailed list of duties is not my way of bragging about all that I do, nor is it my way of showing off that I have it all together, managing to juggle school, work, a social life, and relationships with friends both on and off campus. It is an incredibly difficult balance and sometimes things fall to the wayside—another thing I’ll have to cover in a future blog post. Rather, this is my way of sharing the things that go on behind the scenes, which come together to enhance the music being sung at these liturgical celebrations. All of this is being done for the greater glory of God (Ad majorem Dei gloriam!)

I invite you all to comment down below with your thoughts on this post. Did you know there was so much involved in the role of a music minister? How much does music affect your experience during Mass or Eucharistic Adoration? And be sure to keep a look out for my next blog post that will showcase the beautiful people who volunteer in music ministry here at Saint Leo!