What songs make a difference?

NPM conducts survey to find out

What are the songs that make a difference in the faith of American Catholics? The National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) is trying to find out.

Between now and September 30, 2005, Catholics all over the U.S. may respond to that question by visiting the NPM Web site at www.npm.org/index.html and completing a short survey.

Psalms, hymns and other liturgical songs have long helped to form and sustain the faith of Christian believers. Nearly everyone can identify a favorite or special song that they learned in church - perhaps a song associated with a particular person, event, or stage of life.

The words and melodies of songs used in the liturgy often create a profound sense of God’s presence and action in our midst. This experience can be even more powerful when people are part of a singing congregation. NPM is inviting all American Catholics, not just musicians, to offer their selection of a liturgical song that makes a difference in their own lives. The organization is hoping to discover the texts and tunes that have done the most to help Catholics in the U.S. to form, nourish, and deepen their faith.

Results of the survey will be published later in the fall on the Association’s Web site.

The National Association of Pastoral Musicians is a membership organization primarily composed of musicians, musician-liturgists, clergy, and other leaders of prayer devoted to serving the life and mission of the Church through fostering the art of musical liturgy in Catholic worshiping communities in the United States.