A love for music!

Fr. Pat Casey considers his musical talents as a way to refine his work in the church

by Samantha Schommer

"Multi-talented" can hardly be used to describe Fr. Patrick Casey. This priest of 41 years sings, plays the tuba, and guitar, along with all of his duties that go along with being a priest. Fr. Casey is pastor of St. John's in Darwin and sacramental minister at St. Gertrude's in Forest City.

Fr. Casey has been playing the tuba since the seventh grade. He attended Litchfield High School and was able to be in band and orchestra during his high school career.

"I was at a basketball game, looking down from the balcony, and saw someone playing the tuba. It was then that I decided that I would like to play the tuba," he said.

Fr. Casey also plays guitar. He taught himself to play after receiving the guitar from a roommate at the seminary who didn't want it anymore. He plays rhythm guitar by ear.

Fr. Casey also has a love for music. Ever since he was a young boy, he has been expressing himself through the outlet of music. He was in choir throughout high school.

Since then, he has moved on to sing in the Mankato Area Men's Choir, the Woodbury Chorus and Orchestra, and the Litchfield Area Male Chorus.

Fr. Casey has done a lot of traveling with his various musical groups including trips to Italy, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Georgia.

"I really enjoy traveling and being with the good people that I sing with. Travel and music are a great combination," he said.

He gets plenty of singing in with all of the Masses that he does and in his choirs. "I consider my singing and playing as a way to refine my capabilities that I have at liturgy and at church gatherings and such," he said.

It was a tough choice, but when asked to choose his favorite song to sing, he picked The Prayer of St. Francis.

Fr. Casey sings tenor and enjoys harmonizing. "I get bored with the melody, so I really enjoy doing harmony," he stated.

Fr. Casey enjoys music because it lets you express yourself with more meaning than just speaking. It is "movements of the heart and soul," he said.

For Fr. Casey, singing is a way to connect, with other people, himself, and with God. "Everyone can sing. You don't have to be a musician to appreciate music. Music connects me with people, to sing a song connects me with people," he stated.

Music also keeps Father "in touch" and gives him an outlet to "check out for awhile."

This priest sure knows how to carry a tune, and he is giving all the glory to God in thanksgiving for his fabulous musical talents.

Samantha Schommer is a Junior at Holy Trinity High School, Winsted, daughter of Pat and Lisa Schommer, a Diocesan Youth Council member and an active member of TEC. She will be contributing a series of articles on pastoral leaders and their hobbies in upcoming issues of The Prairie Catholic.