The National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) Chapter
of the Year Award was given to the Arlington Chapter at this
year’s annual convention July 9.
The award is given every two years to recognize a chapter for
its activities, membership involvement, online communication
and support from the local bishop and clergy.
Over the past two years, the Arlington chapter has partnered
with its sister chapter in Washington to host workshops,
liturgy days, an annual lunch and dinner and a variety of
other social events that helped earn them the award.
The continued involvement of music ministers, directors and
clergy from diocesan parishes and their members also has
brought success to the chapter.
David Mathers, Arlington Chapter director, accepted the award
along with seven other board members at this year’s
convention in Grand Rapids, Mich.
“We’re really proud to receive this award,” said Mathers. “I
hope our NPM chapter can be a model for other chapters, and I
hope that this award can be an encouragement to our chapter
members and to all the music ministers of our diocese to
attend our activities and even become chapter members,
joining us as we continue to foster the art of musical
liturgy.”
Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde has been a major supporter
of the group, attending events when he can and encouraging
priests to attend events, according to Mathers.
“One of the reasons we got the award and one of the reasons
for the success of our chapter is Bishop Loverde,” said
Richard Gibala, a previous director of the Arlington Chapter.
The Arlington Chapter of NPM was started in 1987 by Gibala,
who at the time was the National Chapter Coordinator for NPM.
In 2012, the chapter celebrated its 25th anniversary with a
Mass celebrated by Bishop Loverde, followed by a banquet at
the Cathedral of St. Thomas More.
Board member Eugene Harper will take over as the new chapter
director in August, succeeding five other chapter directors –
Dorothy Peterson, Patty Pulju, Gibala, Sylvia Mulherin and
Mathers – all of whom have had a hand in the success of the
chapter.
Harper is prepared to continue the legacy.
“We as pastoral musicians are expected to ‘get it’ – that is,
to embrace, to understand, to promote the application of sung
prayer in every liturgy,” said Harper. “As chapter director,
I hope to focus on promoting that with our many chapter
activities through the efforts of our vibrant board of
directors. To coin one of my favorite terms, we want to ‘Be a
Blessing’ to our diocese, to our many parishes, and to our
brothers and sisters who labor in the vineyards of sacred
musical expression.”
Raynor can be reached at [email protected]
Find out more
The Arlington chapter will host their annual September Mass
and dinner at Sacred Heart Church in Manassas Sept. 25 at
7:30 p.m. Visit npmarlington.org for more
details.
To learn more about the National Association of Pastoral
Musicians visit npm.org.
