Putting Your Money Where Your Liturgical Mouth Is

At present unemployed and impecunious, I will barely be able to pay my own way to this summer's Colloquium.
But one some blogs I frequent, the readership seems to have its fair share of "I'm not a musician myself, but I can tell you the music at my parish is lousy" posters.

Fair 'nuff.

But here's a chance to DO something about it.
Pay for a seminarian's scholarship to the Colloquium! This was in my inbox:

At present, scholarship funds for the CMAA Summer Intensive and Sacred Music Colloquium are extremely limited. Extremely.

Disbursements will not be made until late April - and it all depends on what is available. Any scholarships awarded will more than likely be partial (and as it stands now, I mean partial) rather than full. Hard times call for hard work on everyone's part.

We've already received more requests than we can fulfill. If you are planning on attending but know that you will need help, you may well need to seek out an individual or local organization who can sponsor you, or go about doing some fund raising on your own -- now -- at your school, seminary, or local parish. Bake sales, car washes, benefit concerts, special collections, playing the violin on street corners or in shopping malls, finding a parishioner willing to sponsor your trip, etc. It's time to be creative.

Here's an idea: if you have a somewhat supportive pastor, purchase a copy of the Colloquium DVD here. Arrange for a potluck dinner at your parish or student center. Explain why you are trying to get to the Colloquium, and how it will be a benefit to all. Show the DVD. Ask for donations. Make it happen at home.

Don't forget that the CMAA is an all volunteer organization, and wholly dependent on donations for scholarships.

If you are in the position to help and in particular, interested in sponsoring a musician, priest, or seminarian's attendance, please write to us at programs@musicasacra.com.

If you yourself are already registered for one of our summer programs and would like to give a little extra toward scholarships, you can add that amount to your own fees, and indicate as much on the online or mail in registration form. No amount is too small. All donations are applied directly to scholarships.