Mission Moments A joyful song unto the Lord

Music Ministry Group Enhances The Worship Experience

Theology educator Mark DeLaRosa has long been a fixture at school Mass celebrations, providing liturgical music that’s both prayerful and joyful.

About eight years ago, Allison Baumgartner ‘19 asked if she could join. The two slowly started recruiting other students.

“We had violinists, guitarists, a flutist, and choir members for our first group,” DeLaRosa said.

Today, the group has swelled to about 20 members. A dozen rotating members play every Friday morning at 7:30 a.m. Mass in the school’s Queen of All Saints Chapel.

“One of the great blessings of serving as a Catholic educator is being able to worship with our community in our chapel — providing music and fellowship among our Music Ministry members is a bonus to our liturgies,” DeLaRosa said. “We always have a good time together, and our friendships have deepened because of our service.”

Vocalist Nina LeMoine ‘23, a dedicated member of the group since her sophomore year, has experienced the power of the group to grow faith and friendship.

“When you join, you are welcomed with open arms, and you feel like you are part of a family at Gibbons that’s able to make people feel good during Mass and other times, hopefully,” she said.

Andy Hawks, the school’s orchestra director, leads the group alongside DeLaRosa. The Music Ministry has taught him much about music’s role in Mass.

“We as musicians are blessed with the opportunity to employ our talents to serve God and our community,” he said. “As stewards of the Liturgical music, the most important instrument in our Church is the congregation.”

For Gary Meyerl ‘82, assistant head of school for spiritual life, the orchestration of the Gibbons Music Ministry — blending voices with strings, brass, and percussion — has enhanced the school’s prayer and worship in unexpected ways.

“The students and educators who share their God-given gifts with our community really do help us offer up a joyful song unto the Lord,” he said.

-Sarah Hardin

“St. Augustine famously stated, ‘Singing is praying twice.’ I think he meant that playing music and encouraging singing lifts our voices to the Lord in a very special and meaningful way.”

-Mark DeLaRosa Music Ministry moderator and Theology educator

Mission Moments Beginning & Beyond

More than a decade ago, a group of freshmen at Cardinal Gibbons began visiting Beginning & Beyond, a childcare center in Raleigh’s historic district that offers preschool and after-school care for young children living in traditionally lowincome neighborhoods.

Under the guidance of Mrs. Agnes Penny, the school’s former director of outreach, the students volunteered at the center one morning a week, serving as teaching assistants and advancing the center’s mission to serve children in the community through education, meals, and play.

But before long, the student volunteers were looking for more ways to get involved.

“In 2014, a group of freshmen decided they wanted to return to Beginning & Beyond to tutor the children after school. Initially, they had about four or five student volunteers, but over time, the number grew exponentially,” said Gary Meyerl ’82, assistant head of school for spiritual life. “What began as an idea shared amongst friends turned into a weekly service opportunity offered through the Gibbons chapter of Franciscan Youth International.”

Today, Gibbons takes 25-30 student volunteers each week to serve the center’s children and help them grow in their academic development.

On Thursday afternoons, the student volunteers gather in the Spiritual Life Center to share a snack and enjoy community building time before heading to Beginning & Beyond for tutoring at 4:15 p.m. Volunteers supporting school-aged students assist with homework assignments, while those working with preschool-aged children work on colors, number and letter identification, spelling, math, and more.

Senior Jennifer Tran ‘23 has served as a volunteer since her freshman year and is now proud to serve as one of the program’s student leaders.

“The ability to tutor these children after school through Cardinal Gibbons is special, and I feel so fortunate that we are able to give back to this community.”

She credits the volunteer experience for helping her to grow as an individual – both physically and spiritually – through service.