The month of May we will be doing Ministry Fairs after all the Sunday Masses. Each weekend will highlight a different category of these ministries. This last weekend May 25/26 we are highlighting liturgical ministries.This includes: Art & Environment, Hospitality Ambassadors, Ushers, Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Sacristans, Lectors, Music Ministry, Lazarus Funeral Ministry, and more.
Why be involved in one of POP’s liturgical ministries? Worshiping God is the most important thing we do. There are roles to help in this, and many have talents fitting to these roles.
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth. (John 4:23–24)
Speaking of liturgy and worship, this weekend we welcome a new staff member who will serve as the Director of Music for the parish, Harrison Sheckler. We are so excited to have him, and I share his bio below.
Peace,
Fr. Greg
Dear Members of Prince of Peace,
I am very honored to take on the role of Director of Music at Prince of Peace Catholic Church and look forward to serving the parish and celebrating the Mass with you!
God Bless!
Harrison Sheckler
BIO: Harrison Sheckler is a distinguished musician, educator, and composer, and native of Charles City, Iowa. He is currently progressing towards his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Performance at the University of Arizona, studying under both Dr. John Milbauer and Dr. Daniel Linder. Alongside his major, he is also pursuing a DMA minor in Composition under the guidance of Dan Asia. A graduate of the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (Bachelor of Music) and the Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music (Master of Music), Sheckler is a celebrated pianist with numerous accolades. These include winning the 2014 Terrace Hill Endowment for the Musical Arts Competition, achieving honors in the Music Teachers National Association Senior Piano Duet Competition, and receiving several prestigious scholarships and awards.
His orchestration prowess was showcased in 2021 when the Dallas Symphony premiered his work on Jeffrey Biegel's piano piece, "Reflections of Justice: An Ode to Ruth Bader Ginsburg” in a concert honoring the late supreme court justice. A subsequent and complete performance of the piano concerto occurred in Florida with Jeffrey Biegel and the SpaceCoast Symphony. During the pandemic, Harrison innovatively connected with audiences and artists. He launched the Virtual Choir Project Covid-19, turning the classic "You'll Never Walk Alone" from Carousel into a global phenomenon. Garnering over 1.9 million YouTube views, this project featured 300 participants from 15 countries. A baseball-themed follow-up involved former major league pitcher Bronson Arroyo in a virtual rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” His most recent virtual choir project released in January 2024, features 2x GRAMMY® award winner Gloria Gaynor on a new gospel music video titled "Talkin' 'Bout Jesus." The song, featured on Gaynor's Grammy® award-winning album "Testimony," celebrates themes of hope and spiritual resilience. The collaboration was highlighted by the Sheckler Virtual Choir, an innovative approach by Sheckler that brings together vocalists from around the world through technology, creating a unified musical performance despite physical distances.
In addition to his role as Director of Music, Harrison will serve as adjunct professor of piano at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. He had previously served as Visiting Professor of Piano at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. Prior to moving to Olathe, Harrison served as the primary pianist/organist at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Charles City, Iowa and St. Francis de Sales Parish in Tucson, Arizona. Outside of his professional life, Harrison has a deep appreciation for nature, the arts, and sports. He is an avid fisherman, enjoys the thrill of downhill skiing, has acted in feature films and on television, and never misses an opportunity to attend major league baseball games.