Personal reflections on professional experience of women's liturgical leadership as musicians in the Roman Catholic Church

Abstract

Women’s work as liturgical musicians in the Roman Catholic Church contradicts the established norm that Catholic liturgy (i.e. public and communal Catholic worship, most usually in the form of the Mass) is governed exclusively by ordained men. The author’s relevant professional experience over two decades, alongside semi-structured interviews with other women currently working as professional musicians in the Catholic Church across England, has revealed how women influence Catholic worship (its content, theology and atmosphere) when we take responsibility for the music heard, played and sung there. The presence of women in church as musicians manifests to worshippers as liturgical leadership, since liturgical music leaders are visible and vocal in the liturgical space alongside priests, and musicians take responsibility in Catholic worship for proclaiming the Word of God in song and leading the sung prayer of the congregation. The interview findings presented in this chapter offer a snapshot of the current position rather than promoting an agenda for change. Data from the interviews may be used to support various positions in the ongoing discussions concerning women’s position within the Catholic Church and predicting and planning for liturgical leadership in future.