I cannot believe it has been two months since my first day of work (August 1) as your newly appointed director of music at Holy Spirit Parish! I am grateful to all of you who have made me feel welcome as I continue to transition into this position. I’d like to also acknowledge the dedication and effort brought by our music ministers each weekend. Their kindness, patience, flexibility, and camaraderie with each other have made my experience so far, a very pleasant one.

As a lifelong advocate of music-making, I often chuckle whenever someone tells me, “I can’t sing.” You’re admitting this in front of someone who has taught people how to sing for the last fifteen years! Anyone can sing, anyone can play an instrument. Just like any hobby that we choose to take up and learn, it’s always best when you have a supportive group to help you learn along the way. Our music ministry at Holy Spirit Parish will help you achieve these musical goals, build lifelong friendships, sing, and play beautiful music for every celebration at Holy Spirit, all the while doing this for our faith and for our God! As you take time to reflect and discern what gifts and talents you may have to offer at Holy Spirit, I hope you will consider joining our music ministry. If it weren’t for my dad recommending me to play piano for my home parish, St. Mary’s in Delano, CA, who were in desperate need of a pianist, I wouldn’t have even considered music ministry heading into my adult years. Twenty-five years later, I’m still going strong and now oversee all musical activities at Holy Spirit Parish! It’s never too late to take a risk and join something new. Come and see what our music ministry has to offer!

This weekend we welcome the school children’s choir who will participate at the Sunday 11:30am Mass. Last month I brought back the school children to participate at the Student Mass and now our weekend liturgies every 2nd Sunday of the month! It is my hope that their presence will inspire your children and others to consider joining us to sing and/or play an instrument at our Sunday 11:30am Mass! We are always looking for our youth to get involved with our music ministry. Please speak with me after Mass or contact me by phone or email.

Rehearsals with the music ministry will take place every 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month starting on Tuesday, October 18 from 6:30-8pm in the church. This is what we call a “Y’all come sing” type of rehearsal, as music ministers from the Saturday 5pm, Sunday 9:30am, 11:30am, and 6pm are welcome to join, as well as those of you who are interested in considering music ministry as an opportunity to share your talents! Mark your calendars and come join us!

Diablo Valley College Chamber Singers Concert – Sunday, November 20, 4:30pm
In addition to my duties at Holy Spirit Parish, I am choir director for the Chamber Singers at Diablo Valley College for the 2022-23 season, and we are hosting our first concert of the Fall Semester on Sunday, November 20, 4:30pm at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 2925 Bonifacio St, Concord, CA. These students have been working on some difficult choral music that I’m excited to showcase at this concert! It’s quite a commute, but I’d love to see some of you there if you’re able to make it! You will get to see me work in a different musical setting than you’re accustomed to at church!

Ticket information can be found here. Thank you for taking time to discern and reflect not only on our music ministry, but all ministries that Holy Spirit Parish has to offer. Have a blessed weekend!

Peace and all good,
Tim Mascarinas
timothy.mascarinas@dsj.org
(408) 997-5107