This is our 200th episode of the podcast! Today’s episode includes colleagues and clergy, leaders and laypersons, fellow pastoral ministers who are actively supporting the Church today. As this podcast is produced by the National Association of Pastoral Musicians, I’ll admit that some of our topics are more NPM-centric today, but are no less centered on discussing the needs of pastoral music. In fact, I think this episode reveals some themes that we encounter today. Themes of the needs that exist; themes of the joys we find in our ministry; and themes of the need for associations like NPM to exist.

Featuring guests Jennifer Kluge, Dr. Gordon Truitt, J Michael Joncas, Msgr. Rick Hilgartner, Fr. Roc O'Connor, Andrea Ramos, Maria Nieva and Jose Gallardo.

Next week Ministry Monday will celebrate its 200th episode! As we prepare for that 200th episode, we look back at Ministry Monday's 100th episode. Released on April 19, 2020, the 100th episode was produced as we stepped newly into the pandemic. We were a month into a jarring Lenten and Easter season, with many of us not leading our parishes in music ministry in a “normal” way. Pastoral ministry had, in many ways, screeched to a halt, in the newest days of the pandemic. We celebrate the courage and faith we find in Episode #100, and look forward to celebrating Episode #200 with you next week!

This episode of Ministry Monday is brought to you by the CLEF Summer Program , taking place July 17 – 22 at the Jesuit Spiritual Center in Milford, Ohio.

The program will provide sessions for ensemble instrumentalists, vocalists, and a retreat track. Additional time for daily prayer and private coaching with our team of experienced ensemble musicians is available. For more information, visit https://clef.life.

Today’s episode focuses on an exploration of our Baptism. We may feel that our baptismal calling is fully expressed in pastoral ministry, and in many cases, it might. But what if the Holy Spirit has different plans for us? What if we feel our baptismal calling change? How can we reflect and truly listen to the calling of the Spirit?