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The Diocesan Liturgical Commission hosted a day on liturgical music, presented by international composer, Tony Alonso, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at St Patrick’s Cathedral Hall, 3 Lyons Street South, Ballarat.

Tony is a Catholic composer of sacred music and a scholar whose work responds to the diverse realities of contemporary culture. His many compositions, which appear in compilations and hymnals throughout the world, embrace multicultural musical expressions and reflect a commitment to strong ritual song.

Tony holds a Bachelor of Music in Choral Conducting, a Master of Arts in Theology and a PhD in Religion from Emory University. He is currently Aquinas Assistant Professor of Theology and Culture at Candler School of Theology at Emory University where he also serves as the inaugural Director of Catholic Studies.

A Reflection – Liturgical Music Symposium with Tony Alonso

I went to hear Dr Tony Alonso speak about liturgical music. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’m so glad I went. Tony shared his gift of music throughout the day, interwoven through prayer, lecture and song.



People across the diocese, from parishes, schools and Catholic Education Ballarat, seized the opportunity to hear a modern international artist speak. I was interested in his background as an American university lecturer and a theologian and his insights were thought provoking and grounded in scripture.



Tony discussed the invitation from God for all to sing, which is repeated throughout the Old and New Testaments, as well as the giving of one’s full self to God through the reason of Baptism. He spoke of music healing wounds and drawing people closer to God. The power of music takes the listener and singer to a place where words cannot. Tony mentioned the way that singing seems to be counter cultural, left to the ‘experts’ or those with the microphone. He argued that music is not just an optional extra for liturgy, but an essential part of it – the more music is connected to the liturgy, the holier it is!



Some thought provoking questions he left me with were around the choice of music for the different moments of liturgy and the importance of giving children the types of liturgical songs that will sustain them as they grow. He also said everyone can sing – ‘If God made it, God wants to hear it’!

Bernadette Luckman – Catholic Identity and Mission Primary Education Officer, CEB

PROGRAM AND WORKSHOP DETAILS

9.00am	Registration
9.30am – 11.00am	Workshop 1 – Essential, Not Extra: Singing the Liturgy: The full, conscious and active participation of the liturgical assembly remains a powerful challenge in the face of an entertainment culture. This session will offer new challenges and opportunities for music ministers seeking strategies for moving toward a deeper and more authentic engagement of the assembly in the Church’s sung prayer.
11.00am – 11.30am	Morning Tea (provided)
11.30am – 1.00pm	Workshop 2 – In Endless Song:  Singing is one of the most expressive of all human activities, the way in which we sing our lives to God and to those we love. This workshop will explore the relationship between the music we make in worship and the music we experience in the world, inviting ways beyond polarized conversations about musical styles to a deeper reflection on the richness of God’s gift of song.
1.00pm – 2.00pm	Lunch (provided)
2.00pm – 3.30pm	Workshop 3: Does Our Eucharistic Music Need Reviving?  This workshop digs deep into debates at the heart of the history and theology of the Eucharist to consider how our Eucharistic music old and new reflects the richness of the mystery we proclaim.
7.00pm – 8.30pm	Evening Workshop Workshop 4:  Liturgical Music in the image of Jesus: The practice of ministry calls us to ongoing reflection and conversion. Using scripture, song and pastoral reflection, this session explores the qualities of Jesus’ own ministry we can embody in our work as liturgical ministers.

COSTS

• Full day ticket is $75.00 per person and includes morning tea, lunch and evening workshop (no evening meal provided).


• Evening workshop only is $25.00 per person.

There is the opportunity of sponsorship for five people from each parish in the diocese to attend this event.

Please contact your parish office to register your interest in this sponsorship.

 

BOOKINGS

Booking are essential through trybooking or scan the QR code

Enquiries ph. (03) 5337 7159 or email liturgy@ballarat.catholic.org.au