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Dear Holy Redeemer Parish,
Thank you for welcoming me into your Parish family! When my wife and I got married and settled in this area, we were immediately drawn to Holy Redeemer. Every interaction we had, whether with clergy, staff, or parishioners, was warm, friendly, and welcoming. Even though we weren’t strictly in Holy Redeemer’s boundaries, we knew we wanted it to be our parish home. Since then, Megan has served as a Sunday cantor, and I’ve been lucky enough to accompany the 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass occasionally as a substitute. When I heard that Maria was leaving after a long and fruitful time here, I knew that her shoes would be hard to fill. I’m honored to have been chosen, and excited for the opportunity!
Music, especially singing, holds great power. Singing expresses our identity; it takes our beliefs and values and holds them up, almost sanctifies them. At a sports game, we sing to show our support for our team, as well as solidarity with our fellow fans. In times of war, songs and anthems can be used to inspire troops for battle, but also to mourn those who gave their lives. In church, our singing reaches a higher peak of intensity, as we sing not just about our dreams and goals, but about God who is the fulfillment of all those things. We express our convictions more profoundly when we sing, and we also strengthen and encourage our neighbors in their faith journey.
There must be a reason that angels in heaven are always depicted holding harps! In making music at Mass, I hope we are all inspired to sing along with the angels, who stand before the throne of God and sing unceasingly: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts!” I’m honored to begin my ministry at Holy Redeemer in just a few weeks, and look forward to singing with all of you!
Sincerely,
David F. Bond
