I am delighted to announce to the parish that Ms. Claire Caruso has been hired as the new director of music and will begin her position on June 1, 2014.

In the past year, when Mrs. Diane Kingsbury gave notice of her retirement as director of music, a Search Committee was established to locate a new director. The members of this Search Committee were myself as Pastor, Michele Hawes, Adrienn Salazar, Timothy Paquin and Alden Duquette. A national search was conducted via professional church musician channels. A number of highly qualified applicants expressed interest in the position. There followed a series of interviews either in person or via the internet. It was very uplifting to see so many people who wish to dedicate their professional lives to church music.

Vatican II taught us that sacred music gives the liturgy a "more noble form." The promotion of music within a parish is a very high priority for worship. The gathering of a parish around the Lord's Table to celebrate the Eucharist is the source and summit of parish life. The Eucharist nourishes our lives in so many ways. This spiritual nourishment and worship experience is only possible also with the participation of many persons who fulfill important roles such as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, ushers and the choirs.

Claire hails originally from east of Sacramento, California. She brings to her position a very rich and professional background in church music. She holds a B.M. in Organ Performance from the University of Redlands (California) and has graduated in recent weeks with an M.M. (Master of Music) from Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music. In addition to her professional training she has served as music director at various churches for the past fourteen years, including Catholic and Protestant churches.

The community of Christ the Redeemer extends a very warm welcome to Claire as she begins this important music ministry and assists in our experience of worship in a "most noble form."

Fr. Patrick Cogan, SA
Pastor