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DIFFERENTLY-ABLED

Blind cantor inspires through universal language of music

Blind from birth, Ashley Busch sang "I Believe I Can Fly" when she was six years old, accompanied by a chorus of first-graders. She did not know that God would use her at age 20 to cause spirits to soar from the choir loft of Holy Family parish in Little Falls. 

A non-Catholic, her gifts are leading others to inspiration and conversion.

"She is remarkable," said Mary Puznowski, music director and organist at the parish. 

"She loves religious music from different religions and languages. And she has to memorize everything - the words, the music."

Assisted by a teacher for the visually impaired (TVI) until her graduation from high school in Little Falls, Miss Busch became fluent in French and participated in choral groups, and is currently taking piano lessons. Her interest in music and language led her to a synagogue, where she learned to sing in Hebrew. 

The Eternal Word Television Network drew her to Catholicism. 

"I listened to [EWTN] and was really interested in the Masses," she told The 
Evangelist. 

Her mother, Janet Baker, agreed a few years ago to drive Miss Busch to Mass at Holy Family Church. 

"She liked it, so we went every Sunday," Mrs. Baker recalled. "Ashley wanted to sing in the choir. I didn't think she could because she is not Catholic, but when I asked, they said, 'Sure!'"

Because she could not read the hymnals, Mrs. Puznowski explained, "Her mom came to choir with her and whispered the words in her ear right before we sang them. 

She also brought a tape recorder."

By the end of the week, Mrs. Baker said, her daughter knew every song.

Miss Busch reads Braille, but doesn't have today's computer software that can create hymns in Braille. However, she has sung solo with the choir and initiated an alto section composed of herself and one other woman. 

Recognizing her talents, Mrs. Puznowski asked if she would be the cantor at Sunday Mass. 

"It is a leadership role," the music director explained. "We are really proud of her. 
She is not afraid of challenges. She meets them head-on and does a wonderful job."

Miss Busch is "an engaging young woman who uses her gifts from God to give glory and praise," said Rev. Anthony Ligato, pastor of Holy Family and of Ss. Anthony and Joseph parish in Herkimer. "The fact that she is blind does not stop her from learning all she can about other languages. She continually challenges herself musically."

"The first time she cantored," explained Mrs. Baker, "her teachers and counselors from high school were there. They were thrilled. People lined up afterward to talk to her. I cried, I was so proud of her."

Father Ligato called it "truly an inspirational moment. She inspires us all to not allow our limitation to hold us back."

As a result of attending Holy Family with her daughter, Mrs. Baker also began attending the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults program for people interested in joining the Church. 

At Easter Vigil Mass this year, while her daughter sang in the choir, Mrs. Baker was received into the Church. 

"Ashley is responsible for my coming to the church," she boasted. Although Ashley has not taken that step, "anything Ashley can learn from, she jumps on."

Miss Busch noted that, spending time regularly at Holy Family, "I believe in God more than I did when I was younger. For whoever doesn't believe in God, I would say to go to church and realize that God is everywhere. It's good to believe in God."

God, Mass, language and music converged at Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine at Auriesville last spring when pilgrims from France celebrated Mass in French. Mrs. Puznowski had driven Miss Busch to the shrine; upon learning Miss Busch was from a church choir and spoke fluent French, the pilgrims invited her to sing. 

From the pulpit in the enormous Coliseum, the cantor sang a psalm and a French Christmas carol a capella. 

Mrs. Puznowski was watching the congregation. "I could see their faces light up with smiles," she wrote for the Holy Family parish bulletin, "and they were fighting back tears....As the Mass ended, Ashley was lauded by the French."

"People encourage me," Miss Busch affirmed. "I love it. I was being respected. Everyone thinks it's incredible. I think it's incredible, too."

(07/09/09) [[In-content Ad]]

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