Diocesan Workshop

Nineteenth Annual

      9:30 a.m. Presentations
12:00 p.m. Lunch, Presentations
3:15 p.m. Conclusion
$45.00

Fr. Jim Marchionda is a Dominican priest, preacher, composer and woodwind instrumentalist (clarinet and alto sax) who has been engaged in retreat and parish mission preaching since 1994. His unique ministry creatively combines the Dominican charism of preaching with a professional career in sacred music. Born in 1947 in Struthers, Ohio,  Fr. Jim made his religious profession in the Order in 1968 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1973.  He attended St. Thomas University, DePaul University, Aquinas Institute of Theology and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A member of the Chicago-based Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great, he has served nine years as Vicar Provincial and twenty-five years on the Provincial Council. More recently, for eight years, from 2015-2023, he served as provincial of the Province. Since 2024, he has returned to a part-time ministry in preaching and sacred music. A noted composer for World Library Publications for over 30 years, one of his compositions, I Was Hungry, was sung during the communion rite at the funeral of Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta. World Library is now a division of G.I.A. Publications of Chicago, through which Fr. Jim’s music CDs and octavos are available. 

Fr. Jim states, "As musician, composer and preacher, I have come to realize that both the Church and the world are in considerable need of renewed passion, energy, and creativity in the presentation and preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Although there are various ways to preach the Gospel, one of the most beautiful, most unique, and truly most inspiring ways is through pastoral music ministry. What a powerful way to not only support the Gospel, but amazingly so, to bring the Gospel to life. Perhaps, new life! I have always believed that Gospel preaching is more effective through music. Having sometimes wished that people leaving Sunday Mass would remember the preacher’s every word, the truth is, that just doesn’t happen, no matter how good the preacher is! However, very often, people do leave Church humming a tune – a tune that spoke to their hearts, a tune that brought a tear to their eyes, a tune that moved them at a level of depth that mere words simply cannot reach. And in that memory, in that humming, the Gospel remains alive.
 
Over a half-century ago, the Second Vatican Council stated: 'The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of immeasurable value, greater even than that of any other art!' Following the Council’s lead, the U.S. Bishops Conference added: 'Music, in addition to expressing texts, can also unveil a dimension of meaning and feeling, a communication of ideas and intuitions which words alone cannot yield.' 
 
Pastoral musicians, that’s what we are called to facilitate, reflect, and effect: a dimension of meaning and feeling, a communication of ideas and intuitions which words alone cannot yield! Pastoral musicians, we are gifted, talented, generous instruments of the Church who are, in fact, partners in preaching. We are partners in preaching. What a calling!"