Visit to Monsignor's Parish!

In the past weekend, 9 of us from our church choir went on a retreat to enjoy the fellowship and learn more about the spirituality and theory technique in ministering church music!

We drove on a Friday evening to escape to Whistler. I've thought that it would be a combination of knowledge and spirit-filled environment for us to enjoy -- but also, I did not expect that we did a good job in visiting Monsignor!

It is a beautiful parish!!! It's surrounded by woods and residencial homes. When we have a mass inside the church, we could look over the mountains from Blackcomb and Whistler. Monsignor told us that 'Our Lady of Mountains' is the only denominational church in the town of Whistler. There's a community church provided by the government, with sponsored land and fundings. It was a difficult decision to turn down the offer, by creating our own church, while having to go in debt for years.

I learn to appreciate the nature, but also learn to embrace faith through the love of sacraments through the Catholic faith deeper. I love God and it is through paschal mystery that my life is constantly renewed and fulfilled - and therefore, I can renew and fulfill others who long to see God.

It is a nice fellowship weekend for us to eat, drink, sing, exercise, shop, sleep and most important of all, pray together!

Although we pray together every week by singing at the church every Saturday, it is a different experience when we can sit in the congregation to pray together as a group - without worrying about singing the right notes, or going up to the ambo to lead the responses of psalm. When I can see my group in a different setting, it is such a good time for us to connect and appreciate deeper in companionship. We journey with Christ. We also journey with one another.

We learned about:
1. Spirituality
2. Purpose of Music Ministry
3. Music theory - time value, dotted rhythm
4. More song repertoires
5. Singing technique and warmups

It was a great idea that we could shop in IGA for veggies and gifts for Monsignor. We had a nice sit-down dinner! Our chef, Marylou, made us:

1. Chicken soup
2. Beef on rice
3. Caesar salad (from Costco)
4. Fruits (from Costco) and sweets (from her personal collections)

Our server, Dimas, also gave us reds/whites/orange-C! It was so much fun!!
He also brought us a fun boardgame to mingle and socialize at the end of the evening~~~

Monsignor loves to ski. He goes to ski about 50 times in a year. No wonder he loves Whistler.

We were also the lucky ones that thru his younger brother, we could manage to be accepted as guests in his house! Dimas was also very kind to go through Fr. Mark for finding this location for us. Monsignor encourages young people to participate in the Church. It was hard for me to explain - but we had such an enjoyable time for us to converse, meet, and be encouraged from one another in the presence of God and building our Catholic faith =)

God is really GOOD.
Hope our choir can be renewed and filled with God's holy spirit to function in the new year!
Looking forward to the next one for next year's June!!!

Way to go - St. Mary's Saturday 5pm choir!!! =)