Music became a big part of my life at a very young age. When I was only a few years old, I would sit by my father while he played the piano and sing to my heart’s content even if I did not know the words to the song. Then, when I was five, I began the wonderful adventure of playing the violin. With music so deeply ingrained in my heart, St. Cecilia, patroness of music and musicians, became a special figure who continues to inspire me.

EDMONTON -- As the sound of drums, tambourines and Swahili hymns reverberated through St. Andrew’s Church, Elizabeth Muturi and fellow parishioners swayed their arms and hips, dancing down the aisle with the Book of Gospels raised behind them.

The music produced by the band iv24 for young Catholics at high school retreats, young adult events and evenings of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament is more a by-product than anything else. The seven-member praise and worship band from Mississauga, Ont., didn’t start off trying to achieve close harmonies, infectious beats or uplifting melodies.

WASHINGTON -- Catholics hear hymns in church, but hardly ever on the radio. Now they can augment their weekly diet of hymnody through a new audio web streaming service called Great Catholic Music.

Even a parishioner listening closely during Mass would not know the meticulous care that Jeffrey Moellman brings to every note he plays on the organ at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. 

One of my favourite bloopers from a church bulletin reads like this: “Eight new choir robes are currently needed, due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.” 

A new English-language hymnal is on the way. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has confirmed publishing plans for Music for Catholic Worship, which should be in stock by Lent 2020.

Mary Sharp joined the Young Catholic Musicians choir because she found an outlet for her joy of music and the joy of the Gospel. Last week, for the very first time, she and her fellow musicians shared their joy with audiences in Canada. 

A former student sent me a notice that caught my attention, for both artistic and pious reasons. The Cantata Singers of Ottawa will be at St. Joseph’s Church later this month where the entire program will consist of settings of the brief Eucharistic and Marian hymn, Ave Verum, including those of Lassus, Byrd, Mozart, Elgar, Liszt, Saint-Saëns and Poulenc. 

There is a special type of panic that is reserved for watching your piano being maneuvered up three flights of stairs. 

Kids like picture books. So why should children’s Bibles be any different?

Mark Mallett was close to losing his religion when he rediscovered his Catholic faith through music. 

Maybe punk music doesn’t mean much to you — not your generation, not your taste, not your concern. Maybe you hate punk, its aggression, its contempt for everything non-punk, its vulgarity.