An Evening with Mozart and Personal Revelations

DALLAS, May 19, 2009 — It was an unexpected involvement, the last thing I would have participated in, but there I was Sunday, May 17th at the Cathedral Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe listening to the Diocesan Choir and the Cathedral Chorale with Brian D. Bentley conducting.

Soloists Lucy Tamez Creech, soprano, Natalie Arduino, mezzo-soprano, Del Howard, tenor and Jason Awbrey, bass

On a combined performance of Mozart’s Vesperae solennes de Confessore, K. 339, with orchestra and soloists Lucy Tamez Creech, soprano, Natalie Arduino, mezzo-soprano, Del Howard, tenor and Jason Awbrey, bass, for the first time in my life, I heard the beautiful solo soprano aria Laudate Dominum (Psalm 116) and finally understood why the Catholic Church has been a true patron of the arts for over a thousand years.

There are two subjects that I try to avoid as a writer – religion and politics. Yet, in an evening like this, with the music specifically composed by Mozart in 1780 for the liturgical use in Salzburg Cathedral and being performed at the Dallas Cathedral, religion was an obvious focal point.

Brian D. Bentley, Conductor

And thus, I was easily drawn to a discussion about Pope Benedict and the Catholic Church in general. Having been raised Catholic, I knew how conservative Catholics can be; and being a liberal, I had been at odd with the church for a very long time.

Disclosing that to my three newfound friends, they asked me seriously and very politely what were the “issues” I have with the Catholic Church. So, I told them that the first thing is about birth control and questioning why Pope Paul II and Pope Benedict did not and will not repeal Vatican VI wherein the only allowed birth control for Catholics is the Rhythm Method.

Their answer was a revelation for me – “even with Vatican VI in full force, Catholics are not having enough children to replace them!” They told me that without the missions spreading the Catholic religion, the number of Catholics will actually decline.

That was a surprise for me! Though I have been a Catholic for the whole of my life, I have not been an active member of any parish for the past 20 years. And though I have been attending mass at the Cathedral Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe regularly, I have not listed myself as a parish member.

Hence, speaking with my fellow Catholics, I realized that Catholics in general are more aware of the world issues like overpopulation than I thought. So, for the first time for a very long time, I felt ashamed that I had been away from the fold of the church for the past 2 decades.

The third and perhaps the most important – I found the Catholic Church again! I stood apart from it for personal reasons. I kept my faith but I also kept to myself. That it took an evening with Mozart for me to discover that “church” means people and not just the edifice itself is the true miracle of the evening.

Diocesan Choir and Cathedral Chorale

And now, here’s the pitch!

This concert was held in memory of the late Father Gilbert J. Graham, the namesake of the Father Gilbert J. Graham, O.P. Institute for Sacred Music and Performing Arts, which was in 2003. The Institute’s mission is three-fold: to create, to build and to sustain a sacred music and performing arts program at the Cathedral, enhancing its presence and its participation in the life of the Arts District.

To help the institute to continue its mission, your generous donations will be highly appreciated. The contributions are tax-deductible.

Please send your donations to:

Cathedral Restoration & Preservation Fund, Inc.
fbo Fr. Gilbert J. Graham Institute Endowment
2215 Ross Avenue
Dallas, TX 75201 – 2707

For more information, please call: 214-871-1362

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