The Jubilate Deo Award is given in recognition of a substantial contribution to the development of pastoral liturgy in the United States. Elaine Rendler-McQueeney is a nationally recognized musician, teacher, author, composer, pastoral liturgist and speaker. A native Philadelphian, she graduated from Immaculata University in Music Education and Studied organ under Dr. Alexander McCurdy while serving as organist at the Cathedral/Basilica of SS Peter and Paul. She earned a masters’ and doctorate (DMA) in organ from The Catholic University of America under Conrad Bernier and Daniel Roth (San Sulpice). During that time, she also served in music ministry at the US Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, MD and St. Mary’s Seminary, Catonsville, MD. Upon graduation, she accepted a position on the faculty of Georgetown University in Fine Arts and Campus Ministry. Currently she is a collegiate full professor of Music Theory at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. She is the founding director of the Georgetown Chorale in Washington, DC, a non-profit music organization who members offer community service through music throughout the D.C. area. Elaine is perhaps best known as the editor of Today’s Liturgy, the quarterly journal for liturgy preparation from OCP. She has been writing the weekly columns and music suggestions in Today’s Liturgy for more than 35 years, offering practical wisdom to generations of pastoral musicians.
Board chair Jeremy Helmes remarked: “Elaine’s lifelong contributions as an author, teacher, liturgical minister, and pastoral musician have profoundly shaped the musical worship of the Church. We give thanks for Elaine and celebrate this award with her.”
The Pastoral Musician of the Year Award is given to a pastoral musician who exemplifies the best of NPM, one who has given substantial witness or promotion to the role of pastoral music in parish, diocesan, or institutional life. Mr. Tom Stehle, the Pastoral Associate for Liturgy and Director of Music Ministries at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C., has served in music ministry for over forty years. From small parish liturgies to two papal visits to the U.S., his leadership models the musical, liturgical and pastoral skills essential for effective ministry. In recognition for directing music at the 2008 Papal Mass with Pope Benedict XVI, Tom received the Papal Benemerenti Award. In September 2016, he received the Papal Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal for his contributions to the liturgies of the 2015 Papal visit of Pope Francis. NPM Board vice chair Meg Matuska observed: “Tom’s generosity of spirit and commitment to our common mission are a gift to the church and to our association. We are very happy to present this award to our colleague and friend, Tom Stehle.”
NPM president and CEO Steve Petrunak states: “NPM is thrilled to be celebrating two extremely accomplished musicians who represent such fine discipleship in pastoral music ministry. NPM members are blessed to have two wonderful role models who demonstrate such excellence and dedication to the musical liturgy of the Church.”
The NPM Stewardship Award is given to a member who has demonstrated their commitment to the association through longstanding generosity in sharing their time, talent, and treasure, and inspires others to do the same. This year NPM congratulates Anne Ketzer, recipient of the NPM Stewardship Award. Anne was a member of the NPM Council for many years, served on the NPM Board from 2015-2018, and was chair of the board for the last two of those years. She was a founding member of the Cincinnati Chapter of NPM and chaired three national conventions hosted in Cincinnati (1985, 1995, and 2003). For many conventions she presided over the Silent Auction, raising over 100,000 for NPM. We are grateful to Anne for the gift she is to this Association and to all whom her life touches!
This year we honor the Louisville Chapter with the Chapter of the Year Award for their unparalleled work of transforming an in-person convention to a virtual convention. Congratulations on a job well done!
Louisville Chapter Co-Directors, Martha Richardson and Mark Walker have also been chosen as the winners of the Chapter Leader of the Year Award.
DMMD congratulates Mary Bellman as the 2020 DMMD Member of the Year. Mary is the Director of Music at St. Columbian Parish in Loveland, OH, a position she has held for over 25 years. She has tirelessly devoted herself to music and liturgical excellence in her vocation as a pastoral musician. She is also an active member of the Music and Liturgy Committees in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
Academic Scholarship Winners
Maria Milazzo – Dr. James W. Kosnik Scholarship
Brett Pardue – GIA Pastoral Musicians Scholarship
Darnell St. Romain – Funk Family Scholarship
John J. Mitchell – OCP Scholarship
Julio DeLeon – La Beca Juan XXIII Scholarship (for Spanish speaking students)
Kathleen LaTorre – NPM Members Scholarship
Darrell St. Romain – Dr. Peter R & Rosemary C Girardot Memorial Scholarship
Read more about these incredible members in the September issue of Pastoral Music!
