Music to God's ears

Sharing your talent with others

By Santiago Fernández

My mother once told me: “Son, always share your talent with the church and place it at the service of God, for it was God who gave it to you.” These wise words have always accompanied my ministry and given me strength during difficult times.

As choir director for the parishes of the Archdiocese of Detroit, I work mainly at St. Michael’s Parish in Pontiac, Michigan, where I direct both the English and the Spanish choirs. God called me to this ministry at the age of 14, when I joined the choir of Santa Catalina in Cuernavaca, Mexico. My adolescent years, with their difficulties and uncertainties, were enlightened and blessed by God through this wonderful liturgical music ministry. There were always activities, practice or parties with other choir members, and for me it was very healthy and positive to be always among committed people devoted to serving the church.

I moved to this country when I was just 16 years old as an exchange student and joined a Hispanic choir. We sang at a monthly Mass and so I still had time to study and attend to my responsibilities in the house where I lived. Since then, I have always belonged to some music ministry.

I started college in Massachusetts, near Boston and there I was in charge of three Sunday masses celebrated in the dormitories. I returned to Detroit to finish my music education at the university and joined a parish where I was in charge of music ministry for almost four years. I have had the blessing of working with an excellent pastoral team that strives to serve the needs of our parish community.

I am also very active at the national level as I join in Hispanic pastoral events requiring music ministry. For example, I wrote the theme song for the 2003 Roots and Wings Congress of the National Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry. I believe it is one of my better compositions, encouraging young people to consider their responsibility to lead in these times of change and in this society. It is called Builders of Society. I also participated in the First National Encounter of Hispanic Youth Ministry in 2006.

I have never felt my commitment to the church as an obligation or a duty but rather as a great joy and source of grace and blessings for myself and my wife and our three children.

Your turn
What God-given talents do you think you should be sharing with others? Are you already placing your talents and gifts at the service of God and the church?