Saturday, November 17, 2007
Music & Faith
Group from Prince of Peace shares both on trip to Ireland
Saturday, November 17, 2007
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| The Prince of Peace choir members on the trip were: Front row: Larry Wickersham, Becky Anderson, Carol Hertz, Bonnie McDonough, Kathey Freeman, Ellen Fisher, Charlene Bennett and the Rev. John Meyer. Middle row: Mary McVay, Kathy Ryan, June Taylor, Pam Deveary, Phyllis Wolfschlag, Mary Jo Jankosky and Judy Collins. Back row: Ben Schmidt, Dave Wolfschlag, Bill Hertz, Jim McDonough, Mike Walro, John Stoner and Alex Nemeth. (Submitted photo) |
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| Interior of Killarney Cathedral, Ireland. (Submitted photos) |
You practically have to be a contortionist to kiss the world-famous Blarney Stone, built in 1446 on a rock 90 feet above the Blarney Castle.
But that didn't stop area residents making the Prince of Peace pilgrimage to Ireland, including the Rev. John Meyer, from climbing to the top and leaning far back and downward into the abyss to kiss the stone and grasp the gift of eloquence - as legend would have it.
The recent 10-day trip to Ireland by 64 local residents, including 19 members of the church's choir, was organized by Prince of Peace director of music Larry Wickersham.
For some, the trip touring ancient castles and churches has been a life-changing experience.
"Churches will almost always be part of any itinerary, but on most tours you simply gawk at their splendor," Wickersham said. "When music and faith are thrown into the mix, the group actually experiences the splendor."
The Prince of Peace choir, joined by several non-choir members, sang daily in front of Irish congregations - from city cathedrals to small village churches - during liturgies at eight private and public Masses celebrated or concelebrated by Meyer.
"After Mass, the people made you feel right at home," Wickersham said. "Plus, you're there - not to gawk - but for the reason the building was built for in the first place."
The fifth day of the tour took the group to Enniskillen, the Northern Ireland home of Ulster Project teens who have stayed with Madison area families in the past. The teens joined the Prince of Peace choir for a concert at St. Michael's Church in Enniskillen that also featured a local church and school choir, jazz band and soloist. The concert was held to help fund future Ulster Projects.
Choir member Lisa Gray, husband John and daughter Shelby, 15, tailored their trip to spend more time in Enniskillen, home to Ulster teens and counselors who have stayed with the Grays during summers since 2002.
"It was rewarding to talk to parents only in their 30s who grew up when there were border crossings there - certainly not that long ago - and to see how far they have come," Lisa Gray said. "It was really neat to see our community become part of theirs after enjoying the reverse of that with the Ulster kids such a special part of our community."
Getting to meet the families of the Ulster teens was another special experience, Gray said.
"And hearing the younger siblings of the Ulster teens express their hope that they will someday be chosen for the Ulster Project and come to Madison gave me chills," she said.
Among the stops during the 1,050-mile bus tour were visits to the Book of Kells and Guinness Storehouse, Belleek Pottery, Waterford Crystal, Killarney, Dingle Peninsula and several Irish castles. The tour group also got to see another side to their musical director.
"Choir members only accustomed to hearing me play at Sunday Mass heard a more boisterous type of organ music which I played following the Masses," Wickersham said.
Kathey Freeman, who also traveled with Prince of Peace's first trip to Italy three years ago, never thought she would get the chance to experience other cultures.
"The pilgrimages have allowed me to see places I never dreamed I could," she said. "The buildings were magnificent. We think of old homes in this country as 200 years old, where the stone castles built by hand in Ireland date back a thousand years or more."
She also noted how appreciative the Irish, with their wonderful sense of humor, were that they were there, reaching out to them through music.
For choir members Dave and Phyllis Wolfschlag, the trip was a vacation to a wonderful land, a spiritual journey and a lot of fun.
"What made it especially meaningful was the unique opportunity to renew the camaraderie with people we traveled with on the trip to Italy," Dave Wolfschlag said.
Two couples on the tour managed to bridge heritages separated by an ocean.
During the trip to one village, Madison residents Jim and Nancy Gaven searched for and found two second cousins they had never met. After the trip, Alex and Pat Nemeth traveled to Budapest, Hungary, where they spent a week connecting with their Hungarian relatives.
The group left behind petitions for prayer at Mass in each town church they visited on behalf of every group or organization connected with Prince of Peace.
"The themes for each Mass covered everyone - from child care and church cleaners to readers and lectors and the Knights of Columbus at the church," Wickersham said. "They'll be praying for our needs, while we will be keeping them in our prayers back at home."
Customizing his church's trip to Italy three years ago led to a new career for Wickersham. A 180-degree career change from corporate accounts receivables to spiritual music tour director has been literally music to the ears of the locally-renowned organist.
"When I was shopping for an agent for the Italy tour, I chose the only company willing to customize a tour just right for people from Madison," he said. "We are derived from an agriculture community and wanted to get into the countryside - not just big cities. What they gave us was a gift."
Wickersham volunteered to help customize church trips, was invited to help the company at a couple of summer conventions, and ultimately was offered the job of planning church tours centered on music.
"It's become a ministry to me and a natural fit for me," he said.
Wickersham uses his musical knowledge and organizational skills to work with pastors, music directors and musicians around the country, guiding them toward a good experience abroad. Occasionally, he leads a group on their trip.
"Most have no idea how to arrange all the planning, preparation step by step," said Wickersham, who works from home on his computer.
"Larry is so precise about everything he plans for the tour," Dave Wolfschlag said. "He leaves nothing to chance. He's passionate about music and completely dedicated to his church, faith and, especially, people."
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