Giving Glory to God Through Music – Father Jamie Utronkie, CC

“The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation” – Psalm 118:14

About two years ago I found myself sitting at the piano during a quiet morning in the church at St John Vianney here in Lower Sackville, NS. One of the ‘sacrifices’ of being ordained a priest was that I could no longer provide music ministry at Mass or in other venues as I had often done in the past. As such, whenever I had a free moment between ministry and meetings, I decided to steal away into the dark corner of the church so that I could reconnect with my musical roots and offer a ‘musical’ prayer to God.

I really enjoy playing the piano. Even though I have never taken lessons, I have been tickling the ivories since age 4. I suppose that I had retained this lifelong interest through the ongoing musical influence of my parents and siblings. So sitting at the piano was nothing new for me, yet on this one particular day it was a bit different as the parish secreta