Lakewood Presbyterian Church

Let’s talk about interdenominational dialogue for a moment. I am a practicing Catholic–emphasis on the “practicing” part–and from 2023 to 2025 I sang as the Bass section leader for Lakewood Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville, FL. There was no ulterior motive of converting the congregation to Catholicism, nor did I feel anyone at LPC trying to convince me to renounce my faith; only profound mutual respect. It was the most welcoming congregation to be a part of, and the choir was one of those rare ensembles that actually put the music before their individual egos. 

Sunday morning worship at the Presbyterian church featured gorgeous choral anthems and hymns sung in four part harmony. The congregation was only about a hundred or so folks on any given Sunday, and about a fourth of that population sang in the choir. You can’t buy that level of participation. During my time with LPC, I would regularly attend Mass in the evening on Saturday or Sunday, often cantoring at my home parish. I love my Catholic faith and it is something of my life’s mission to help strengthen the musical life of the Church. But here is an honest truth, the vast majority of Catholic parishes in the United States no longer cherish their rich history of sacred choral music. Let’s face it, the Anglicans, Episcopalians, Lutherans, and Presbyterians–to name a few–have been better custodians of this tradition than the Catholics who pioneered it.

Now, we all have friends whose religious views do not line up exactly with our own. I had friends tell me that I was complicit in committing sacrilege by assisting the worship at a Protestant church. I respect their fervor for their faith, but I feel strongly that both the Presbyterian church and I benefitted from my time there. We learned more about the others’ beliefs and valued our connection as Christians. When my paternal grandparents passed away, members of the LPC choir came to sing at their Catholic funeral Mass, and it was a more beautiful liturgy because of it. Singing with the Presbyterians gave me profound insights into modern American Christianity. I believe there is a spirit of ecumenism brewing and I am excited to see where it takes us.