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| David Haas, Executive Director |
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About 16 years ago I had this wild idea. I dreamt that we could bring together talented young people and committed adult mentors and teachers to discover a fresh and dynamic renewal in how we form, celebrate and nurture leaders of sung liturgical prayer. When I was growing up, I was blest to have parents, teachers, and mentors that believed in my talents, who took the time and attentiveness to help harvest the very best in my potential as a musician, liturgist, minister, and as a person of faith. After many years of ministry, I began to feel as though it was time to return the favor. It was time for me to start giving back.
12 years ago, I was able to convince a small group of fellow colleagues, composers, musicians and good friends to take a leap of faith with me and try something very different and very intentional to help empower young people to celebrate their musical gifts together with a commitment to prayer leadership and service, not just for the future, but right here, right now. Together with St. Catherine University, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, and many publishers, organizations and individuals, the dream became a reality.
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The result is
“Music Ministry Alive!”, a 5 day summer institute where we have
gathered in St. Paul, Minnesota for the past 12 years with young people
and adult leaders from all across the United States, Canada, Ireland,
Europe and Africa. MMA believes that ministers of music are best formed
in an atmosphere of community, creativity, support and challenge, and
common commitments to not only quality musicianship and liturgical
leadership, but to the wider commitment of the church to renew the face
of the earth. Each year we gather together about 150 young people and
over 50 adult leaders who celebrate the vision of the power of
liturgical music, to help send forth leaders to serve our parishes and
schools now and in the years to come. Many renowned and
prophetic liturgical leaders, composers, theologians, and teachers are
part of our team and faculty each year. As a result, many of our former youth participants are now serving as parish music directors, campus
ministers, composers and volunteer pastoral musicians. God is so good!
In gratitude, 2010 brings us to our 12th year, and we give thanks to the one who brings us togehter: this God that we know will never let us go; this God who calls us to something greater than ourselves, this God of surprise who keeps a watchful and loving eye on all who follow in hope. This year we give thanks! We give thanks with all our gifts and talents, with all our songs and dances, we give thanks with all our hearts. This year our theme is “God Is Still Speaking” From July 27 - August 1st we will celebrate that in the midst of efforts, movements and strategies to take the renewal of the church backwards, we celebrate the reform and renewal that the Second Vatican Council proclaimed, especially in its common life of prayer and worship. We will sing, pray, celebrate and lift each other up not as an escape, but as a path to continue when we go forth to serve the greater church.
We hope that you will join us in the celebration and the wonderful cause of young people and the energy and passion that they bring to a church aching for new life. Explore our new website, and catch a bit of the joy that we have come to know as the community of MMA!
God bless you.
David Haas, Founder and Executive Director
Music Ministry Alive!
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