Looking back at the weekly messages of Father Paul Counce, first published in The Carpenter, our weekly Parish Bulletin
Published: April 28, 2019
Our celebrations of Holy Week, from Palm Sunday, through the diocesan Chrism Mass on Spy Wednesday, to the Sacred Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter, were all wonderful! While we have to give thanks to God first of all, for offering us salvation in His Son Jesus Christ, a lot of other thanks goes out too: to Bishop Duca for joining us for these liturgies, to all of the other liturgical ministers, to our wonderful office and maintenance personnel, and perhaps most especially this year to our musicians. I need to single out here the marvelous Cathedral Choir, which has been for the past four months led by its longtime assistant director, Mrs. Mary Hurlbert Stein. Bravo for “coming through” as we knew you would!
The “big news” of the Cathedral Parish’s Easter weekend was the Resurrection of the Lord, of course! But right behind this was the announcement that, as of May 1 and at the recommendation of our Search Committee, I have hired Mr. David Summers to be our permanent Director of Music and Organist. He is no stranger to us, since he’s been our principal interim organist since the beginning of January.
David, 34, is a former organ student of our late Director of Music, Robbie Giroir, and an alumnus of LSU and of the University of North Texas where he studied organ with Dr. Jesse Eschbach. David’s fulltime work is as a financial services professional and life insurance agent with New York Life. When he’s not there (or home, or here!), he gives organ and piano lessons, and is a group lesson instructor for sight-singing methods and Gregorian chant. He sings with the Baton Rouge Symphony Chorus as a bass and is a sectional rehearsal leader. He is currently the Dean of the Baton Rouge Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. In Texas, David previously served as organist at the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Dallas and as Music Director at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Denton. He has played at many different churches in the Diocese of Baton Rouge since 2008. He has played and given recitals at Cathedrals and other prestigious venues in Ohio, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. A native of Doylestown, Ohio, David resides in Baton Rouge with his wife, Brittani; they are expecting their first child this summer!
Obviously we’re excited to have David “on board,” and I know he looks forward to his work here, continuing to advance our Cathedral Parish’s music program. He’ll quickly begin handling all of the music planning, and cleaning up and reorganizing the choir room and music library, and organ loft (trust us, it’s all needed!). And I know he welcomes your suggestions and observations regarding all aspects of our musical and choral programs here, so don’t be shy in sharing these. But most of all, let’s welcome him: not only has he been a tremendous help in filling the large void in our Parish’s liturgical life, he’ll be a big part of our musical future!
Lastly, don’t forget that this coming Saturday, May 4, is our celebration of The Cathedral Evening. Have you bought your tickets yet? The special 4 pm vigil Mass and meal following is a favorite Parish event. We will honor Mr. & Mrs. Thomas & Mary Acosta, Mrs. Dorothy Hall, Mrs. Sheila Juneau, and Bishop Robert Muench as St. Joseph Apprentices, and bestow the Cathedral Community Award on Mr. & Mrs. Charles & Nancy Valluzzo. Contact the Parish Office (office@cathedralbr.org or 225-387-5928) to let us know you’ll be with us!
Yours in the Risen Lord,
Rev Paul D. Counce
