NPM Fall meeting to focus full participation in the Mass

“What does the phrase full, conscious, active participation in the Eucharist mean?” asked Sister Kathleen Harmon, SNDdeN. “I want to address what that really means. Frankly, we stop at the level of being active. If people are reading, singing we think we are good. It means so much more when it’s full conscious.”

Sister Kathleen will be the speaker at the National Pastoral Musicians Fall Meeting, September 23, at the Terra Sancta Retreat Center. She is a long-time member of NPM, musician, author, educator, and national speaker. Her presentations will focus on the Eucharist and the National Eucharistic Revival.

“Over three planned presentations, she will examine the Gift of the Eucharist, becoming the Eucharist in the Body of Christ, and lastly, how the Eucharistic gift is reflected in music and music ministry,” explained Bonnie Josten, co-director to the Rapid City NPM Chapter. “In this period of the National Eucharistic Revival, Sister Kathleen’s chosen topic is very fitting for musicians and non-musicians alike. Whether or not you are a pastoral musician, this is a wonderful discussion for all to hear and become renewed in our devotion to Christ and the Eucharist.”

“These sessions are going to be important for anybody,” Sister Kathleen agreed. “The Liturgy is about us being drawn into the Trinity, into the Paschal Mystery. We have been taught active participation so that people can engage with the Mass, and they like it. But, when we get to the consecration – words attributed to Jesus – ‘do this in memory of me,’ people think that means reenacting eating and drinking. He meant give your body and pour out your blood. Have you ever thought of that? Did you know that? Do we walk out of Mass saying I have to give my blood? We don’t.”

Using the application of speech act theory, Sister Kathleen will address how to help participants to fully engage in the Mass and to be Christ-like in the world. Speech act theory is the idea that language contains meaning and truth beyond the definition of the word using three types of speech:  locutionary – fact, illocutionary – the meaning in which you communicate, and perlocutionary – the effect of our words. 

“The liturgy is a lot of speech. It is truth. What’s the truth in the word of God? It’s the truth because it’s fact. It’s truth because I’m living it. And it’s perlocutionary if we go and proclaim the truth. If we don’t go and do it then there is no truth to that statement,” she explained.

In her final presentation of the day, Sister Kathleen will discuss music in the Mass and why it is an important ministry and how the music ministers play a supporting role in Liturgy. “The primary ministers of music of the liturgy are the members of the assembly. It’s not about the people playing the music and singing the songs. They are the support. It’s there to allow us, the assembly, to surrender to what God is doing,” she said.

The day begins at 9 a.m. and includes morning prayer, a silent auction, award presentations, and the commissioning of music ministers. Please send your RSVP and an $18 payment for the catered luncheon to Carman Timmerman, 12 St. Charles St., Rapid City, SD 57701, by Sep 16, 2023. She can also be reached at carmantimmerman@gmail.com.