Calling tune for 'Called'

Music minister Steve Wildermuth has always felt called to involvement in the Church, so, when Bishop Howard J. Hubbard asked Catholics to lend their gifts to the "Called to be Church" planning process, he responded by writing a song.

The three-verse hymn will debut at the Parish Convening at LaSalle Institute in Troy on Oct. 28.

"I wanted to come up with a new song on the theme of community and Church, and the people as Church," the composer explained.

Inspiration

The song was inspired both by the Bishop's words about the planning process and by Mr. Wildermuth's own experiences of being involved in the 2005 merger of Sacred Heart Church in Philmont and the Church of the Holy Cross in West Taghkanic, which became St. John Vianney parish in Claverack. He shares music duties there with Paul Slusar and is primarily in charge of music at the Saturday vigil Mass.

The song reminds Catholics that they are "called to be God's priestly people," Mr. Wildermuth said.

It also refers to St. Teresa of Avila's rejoinder that Christ has "no hands or feet on Earth" but Christians' to serve the world, he said. "We're supposed to be His hands and feet."

Getting involved

The composer believes his hymn "will help give people a sense of ownership of the Church. [We're] not supposed to be just sitting in the pews. We are called to fulfill the mission of Christ. That's the primary reason for the Church."

A convert to Catholicism, Mr. Wildermuth felt drawn to Church activities almost immediately after completing the RCIA program.

He started out playing guitar for a charismatic music ministry, and, when the "opportunity arose, I finally got involved in doing parish music."

Going wide

Originally, Mr. Wildermuth created the song to help his parish work through the "Called to be Church" process, but he showed an early draft to Deacon Warren Dorsch, who is assignment to St. John Vianney and involved at the diocesan level in planning for "Called to be Church."

Deacon Dorsch recommended that he show the song to the Diocese.

Mr. Wildermuth hopes that "it catches on, and that people take the words to heart -- that they don't just sing it, but pray it."

(10/26/06)