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The annual Gospel Jazz Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral Oct. 26 featured multiple parish choirs. In a message of brotherhood and sisterhood, homilist Deacon Chuck McNeil said, “No one is more important here than anyone else.” (Photos courtesy Debra Greenblat)
Nov. 1, 2019
The gospel choirs from St. Paul of the Shipwreck, Sacred Heart/St. Boniface, Our Lady of Lourdes, and St. Columba in Oakland, under the direction of Diane Crowther, joined together Oct. 26 at St. Mary’s Cathedral for the annual Gospel Jazz Mass.
Crowther, the gospel choir director at Shipwreck, led a quintet of jazz musicians and a 30-plus-member choir. Retired Auxiliary Bishop William J. Justice was the principal celebrant, joined by Father Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA, parochial vicar at Shipwreck; Deacon Chuck McNeil, pastoral associate at St. Dominic Parish homilist at the Mass.
“Perhaps the message tonight is this, brothers and sisters, that we keep the focus on ourselves, on our own need to change, on our own need to grow in faith, and on how we need to serve our brothers and sisters,” Deacon McNeil said.
“Tonight, brothers and sisters, as we gather with our bishop for the Eucharist, we recognize that in this beautiful temple, we can only come to the eucharistic table in a humble spirit with a contrite heart,” he said.
"At this altar you will see that there are no reserved places for anyone. No one is more important here than anyone else. No one is more deserving than anyone else. No one is more holy than anyone else.”