• One of the leading voices that claimed the wealth of Black song...the Spirituals and Gospel Music was the clarion voice of Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, Sister Thea Bowm an. Sister Thea stressed the importance of being authentically Black and autherntically Catholic in embracing the gift of sacred song.   In the introduction to Lead Me, Guide Me,  Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA, Ph. D. write s:

           From the African Mother Continent, African men and women, through the Middle Passage, throughout the Diaspora, to the Americas, carried the African gift and treasure of sacred song, To the Americas, African men and women brought sacred song and chants, that reminded them of their homelands and that sustained them in separation and in captivity, songs to respond to all life situations, and the ability to create new songs to answer new needs.

           African Americans in sacred song preserved the memory of African religious rites and symbols, of a holistic African spirituality, of rhythms and tones and harmonies that communicated their deepest feelings across barriers of region and language.
           African Americans in fields and quarters, at work, in secret meetings, in slave festivities, in churches, camp meets and revivals, wherever they met or congregated. consoled and strengthened themselves and one  another with sacred song--moans, chants, shouts, psalms, hymns, and  jubilees, first African songs, then African American songs. In the crucible of separation and suffering African American sacred song was formed.
  
  Black sacred song is soulful song:
  1. Holistic: challenging the full engagement of mind, imagination,          memory, feeling, emotion, voice and body.
                                  2. Participatory: inviting the worshiping community to join in                                              contemplation in celebration and in praise.
                                  3. Real:  celebrating the immediate concrete reality of the                                                    worshiping community- the grief of separation, struggle or                                                oppression, determination or joy and bringing that reality to
                                      prayer within the community of believers.
                                  4.  Spirit-filled:  energetic, engrossing, intense.
                                  5.  Life-giving:  refreshing, encouraging, consoling, invigorating,                                           and sustaining.
  
  Sr. Thea challenges us that: Black sacred song has been a source and  an expression of Black faith, spirituality, and devotion. By song, our people have called the Spirit into our hearts, homes and churches, and communities. Seeking to enrich our liturgies and lives with gift of sacred song, we pray:
                          "Spirit, Sweet Holy Spirit, fall afresh on me..."
                          "Everytime I hear the Spirit moving in my heart I will pray."
  
  St. Augustine once wrote: " Singing is praying twice!"  
  The importance of the Choir in our celebrations of worship is one way we appreciate the diversity of musical genre within the Liturgy.  Lead Me, Guide Me and the St. Augustine Hymnal are two sources for our musical choices at St. Benedict. Together with the Choir, 
  let us hear the invitation of the psalmist: "Let us make a joyful song unto the Lord." If the Spirit of the Lord is moving you to lift up the name of Jesus, simply call and find your seat in the Choir.  
  
  And whatever instrument that God has blessed you to play...there is room for drums, a saxophone, tambourine... Remember, we've come to praise the Lord! Call us today
  
                       Rhonda Savoy      706-  718- 1007
                       
                       Ministers of Music:   MaryBeth Kozee
                                                     Dr. Joseph Saulsbury