March 10 deadline to apply for assistance in attending pastoral musicians convention in K.C.
The Jefferson City Diocese Chapter of National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) is offering scholarships for people in the diocese to attend the NPM National Convention, July 8-10 in Kansas City.
Applications for the scholarship are due March 10.
“This is a unique opportunity for all liturgical musicians in our diocese to make your ministry more effective by experiencing ongoing education, new music from the top publishers in our Church, and networking with your peers,” stated Laura St. Clair, cofounder of the diocese’s NPM chapter.
Young people and people serving in smaller parishes are especially encouraged to apply for the scholarship and attend the convention.
“There are people in some of the smaller parishes that still don’t know we exist,” said Mrs. St. Clair, a member of Immaculate Conception Parish in Jefferson City.
In addition, “we have to get the next generation of pastoral musicians formed and catechized and trained and get them going,” she said.
This is the first time in 10 years that the NPM National Convention has been held so close to the Jefferson City diocese.
“Whether people go for a day or for the whole convention, we want to get as many people there as we can,” said Mrs. St. Clair, who attends the national convention almost every year.
“If we can get the people from our diocese there, they can experience what music is like in the entire U.S.,” she said. “And to hear it straight from the composers and do some education with the breakout sessions.”
“The amount of education and formation you get at these things is absolutely wonderful,” she added.
Money for the scholarships came from a 2020 Epiphany concert given by the contemporary choir at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Columbia.
Donations given at the annual concert are earmarked for various causes. The COVID-19 pandemic prevented the money that year from being spent on its intended purpose — sending young people from this diocese to an NPM event specifically for them.
The event got cancelled and was never rescheduled.
Members of the local chapter decided this year to use the money to help people — including young people who are interested — get to the National Convention.
“NPM is usually held prohibitively far from here, and having it so close provides an opportunity we don’t want to miss,” said Kate Basi, an NPM member from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. “We want to make sure as many people can attend as possible.”
Write to Mrs. Forbis at JeffersonCityMO@npm.org for information about applying for the scholarship. For more information about the NPM National Convention, visit: npm.org
