Catherine Benskin: The Real Catherine

We all know that we can look into our family history to learn about who we are and why we do the things we do. Last night's journey on the web answered a lot of questions about myself.

Well, I've known all along that my favorite Uncle Alec was gay and had an alter ego. Prompted by a recent article in the Post Magazine, I did a little more research on the early drag scene in DC. I found out that Alec had quite a history in activism and entertainment! As an added bonus, I'm sure it's no surprise to anyone that I am related to Miss Gay Universe 1967! He was buried with his sceptor. http://www.rainbowhistory.org/brice.htm . Thanks for indulging me....

We Miss You Alec!

I know I am not as up to date on this as I used to be. I do want to drop a piece of cool news, though. Look for me at NPM. I will be singing back-up and "Rockin' the Parkway", NJ. Hope to see you there!

From my friend Christina....
Dear Family and Friends,

As you may know, I recently returned from Germany and running my first international race. This was a half marathon in my college hometown of Freiburg, located in the south western corner of Germany near the Black Forest, Switzerland and France. Well, needless to say the race was terrific and being with friends made the journey even more wonderful. My Dad often recites an Irish blessing that says in part..."may you count your age in friends not years..." I am truly blessed by many close friends and family around the world and I am asking for your support as I run my next marathon -- The Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco, CA, to be exact.. Yes, I have picked the next one and this time I am doing it in honor of all my friends and family who have been touched by cancer. This will be the first time that I run for a cause. Like you, I am sure that you are able to list more than 5 people who have been directly affected by cancer. It is for this reason that I am running for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team In Training.

As I continue with my training and prepare for the race in the Fall, please take a moment to make a donation and keep me in your prayers. Our initial goal is approximately $4,500, however, I hope to far surpass that amount with everyone's support.

To make a secure and fully, tax-deductible donation on-line, please go to: http://pages.teamintraining.org/md/nikesf08/ccahillane If you would prefer to send me a check, please make it payable to: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and send to me at 2776 Washington Street, Adamstown, MD 21710.

I currently have two cancer patients for whom I am running: 1) Jania Sturdivant, a 29 year old, stay at home, mother of two boys. She has luekemia and has been in treatment since December 1, 2001. 2) Emily Zimmerman, an 8 year old, fourth grader, who has T-Cell A.L.L. Stay tuned for pictures of both of these champions and more on my webpage. Finally, I am also running in honor of those people I know (and you know) who have lost their battle with cancer. I will be posting pictures of these champions and would be happy to post pictures of family and friends of yours who have had cancer as well. Send pictures with names to me as soon as possible.


My first target date is Sunday, June 1, 2008, when I would like to be at $750.00 in donations.

Thank you in advance for your continued support! Oh, and please pass on this email to your friends and family that you think might be interested in making a donation. The more the merrier! Thanks!

With much love,

Christina

It's been a busy few weeks for me. Amidst the preparations for the Papal Mass, I had the opportunity to attend a House Concert with John Angotti. What a great opportunity to have dinner, visit and "JAMM" with him and his drummer Dion Clay. Much aprreciation to our hosts and to music director Cindy Cummins and Father Kelly for investing in nurturing events with their musicians!

And yesterday at the Papal Mass.... Wow! So Exciting! I learned all the music in time and I think the choirs did a great job. Watching the Popemobile enter was a very surreal experience. I didn't take any pictures as, well, I am one of those people who is too busy living . Hope you were all able to catch it one way or another.

On Sunday, my cantor mentor, Joe Simmons will be the psalmist for the Papal Mass at Yankee Stadium. Keep an eye out for him!

Yikes, yesterday my husband & I had the flu. Yes, we believe in doing things as a couple. I didn't tell my music director because I had a funeral to sing today and I knew (from my son's illness) it would only be 24 hours. I didn't want her to worry. Apparently, she was holding out on me too. I was preparing to start the Mass, one of the family members asked me a hositality question and told me that it would be helpful so he could pass on that information to Governor O'Malley. That was unexpected. Patti, my director said she didn't want me to be nervous. Glad I didn't cancel out on this one.

Caroline Jessup sounded like one of the creations God would be especially proud of. Although I am sure I would have been more happy to meet her, I am proud I was able to lead for her funeral Mass.

First:
Dear Catherine,
We called for singers for the Papal Mass in Washington, and the church of Washington responded in a wonderful way. Nearly 500 singers auditioned for the Papal Mass Choir last weekend, and it is clear from the voices we heard that God has blessed our parishes with musical gifts. The judges had a very difficult task selecting the 250 singers we need for the Choir. But they have carefully reviewed the audition results and after prayerful consideration they have given me the list of Choir members. I am pleased to offer you a place in the Alto section of the Papal Mass Choir. I hope that you will accept this invitation to lead the church of Washington in song during the Papal liturgy on April 17.

I am looking forward to working and learning with a choir of this size and dedication!

Second:
Cantor Express (see Aug 9, 2007) is coming to Baltimore. Co-led by Joe Simmons, I highly recommend this weekend to cantors of all levels of experience. Go to NPM.org for more information.

Best Wishes for a Transforming Lenten Season!

Several summers ago I took part in this magical retreat. Besides vocal training, there is light exercise and guided spiritual meditation time. The retreat takes place at a wonderful place called the ARC Community. Healthy, delicious food, calm atmosphere. I highly recommend this experience! http://www.jeannecotter.com/

JULY 12 - 17 YOUR TRUE VOICE -
Maximize your vocal potential through this empowering Vocal Retreat for the beginner through professional singer (cantors, choir members, choir directors, performers ,teachers). Retreat includes both individual coaching and group learning.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a letter to the editor of our local paper, The Gazette. I hadn't realized that my letter had been chosen for publication until yesterday when I cleaned out the bottom of my recycle bin and found the papers that my neighbor had stashed there while I was gone.
If you are interested, here is the link:
http://www.gazette.net/stories/112107/montlet62907_32362.shtml .

Exerpts from my article on the Cantor Express weekend has been published in the December issue of MD/DC/VA NPM Chapter Newsletter. Again, to see the full version, see my August entry Cantor Express Revealed below.

Back from my Hawaiian vacation with the family. Ready for the busy Advent and Christmas season.

How many of you are tired of your time being less important than doctor's? Here's my story:

Last Thursday I had an appointment with my psychiatrist, whom I see every 8 weeks to renew my bi-polar meds. I was 15 minutes early. After waiting 40 minutes past my appointmnet time, it was time to go pick up my daughter and 3 other girls from school. I was told if I left I would be charged $100 for a "cancelled" appointment. I am supposed to be able to wait an hour according to the doctors. I was instructed when I rescheduled, I could talk to the doctor to see what could be done. I wasn't too concerned. I have been a patient at this office seeing both a psychiatrist and a therapist for my condition for 4 1/2 years. I don't miss appointments, I pay on time. I figured it was a matter of office policy and for frequent offenders there does need to be consequences.

When I saw my doctor, he told me the most he would take off was $50. So, basically, I am expected to pay $50 for the privelege of waiting 40 minutes? I am a stay-at-home mom. I get paid nothing whether I accomplish my goals for the day or not (which if you are a parent, you know it is usually "not", as your to-do list for one day is worth about a week's time). How much could I accomplish in 40 minutes? I am expected to call if I am going to be even a few minutes late. No one called me to say the doctor was late. And why should I pay if I was on time, early even?

In my opinion, a psychiatrist who teaches his patients that who they are and what they do is invaluable or not as important, is not a good psychiatrist. I refused to pay the $50 and walked out to look for a psychiatrist who doesn't try to keep his/her patients down.

Self-worth issues cured!

Hey All!
Good news! The LGBT Christian newsletter/mag (print and online) that published my essay about the AIDS Ride has published the lyrics to a song I have written. It will be in their Nov/Dec issue. Here's the link: http://epistle.us . I just got my advanced print copy, but the online issue will not be up until Nov 1st.
I am looking for someone who has time to write some chords to the melody. If you are interested, email me with subject header LILY. I'd love to hear from you so I can bring to life this song inspired by (but not all things necessarily based on) my friend Alison I wrote about this summer. Thanks Alison! Love ya, Babe!

The sad news comes to me that my friend and ministry mentor, Clem McClintock has gone to Eternal Glory. Clem was the visionary and (along with devoted wife Loretta) founding leader of our St. Rose Gay and Lesbian Ministry. What wonderful changes he encouraged in the world around him. I recently got Danielle Rose's latest CD. There is a song on there that describes how I see Clem. Always doing God's work humbly. Cardinal Newman provides the text, Danielle the music and voice:

Dear Jesus, help us to spread your fragrance everywhere we go. Flood our souls with your spirit and life. Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly that all our lives may only be a radiance of yours. Shine through us and be so in us that every person we should come in contact with may feel your presence in our soul. Let them look up and see no longer us, but only Jesus. Stay with us and then we shall begin to shine as you shine so to shine as to be a light to others. The light, Jesus, will be all from you. None of it will be ours; it will be you shining on others through us. Let us thus praise you in the way you love best, by shining on those around us. Let us preach you without preaching: not by words, but by our example by the catching force, the sympathetic influence of what we do, the evident fullness of the love our hearts bear for you. Amen.

Available to listen to at:

http://www.myspace.com/jeffthomasproductions

Available for purchase through WLP

http://www.wlp.jspaluch.com/wlp/product.asp?category=CD&part%5Fno=007567&find%5Fcategory=CD&find%5Fdescription=CDS&find%5Fpart%5Fdesc=I+Thirst&mscssid=2FRUQ5V8XH6K8GUUBTMJ262PDN6GC735

PS Props to WLP for FAXing the pre-published draft of music so we could sing it at the funeral. It went really well.

Definitely words for Cantors, although words for all to live by.

Clem, Well done good and faithful servant.

Thanks to all who participated by running, walking, volunteering time or donating financial support. The number of participants in the 5K hovered around 1500, while walkers was in the 6000 range. Money raised to date is approximately $750,000! This number will continue to rise until year's end I am told. So, if you were not able to donate or not able to donate as much as you would have liked and get a surprise windfall, you can still contribute!

Also great news is that for most of the time I was down there (in my lost & found booth), I had a clear view of the Free HIV testing vans sponsored by Whitman-Walker Clinic as well. Lines were steady and still hadn't diminished by noon when I left!

Thanks again for your support!

Ireland's Four Fields by Cleveland Park Metro. Oct 9, 7 pm. Homosexuality & the Catholic Church. I will be down there with a few friends from my St. Rose ministry and from St. Matthew's Cathedral I believe will have representation, too. Come join us for some fellowship before and after the talk and Q & A. See you there.

I just picked up this pamphlet at church. It's a very affirming pamphlet aimed at those who are living with HIV/AIDS and how we as Christians/Catholics should be responding. I did not know the Archdiocese of Washington DC has an HIV/AIDS ministry. They meet monthly downtown, Metro Accessible. Confidentiality assurred. If you are living with HIV/AIDS, you needn't walk this journey alone. Contact Michael Scott for more information: 301.853.5308; mscott@adw.org .

Hello Friends,

It has been a while. Many of us are settling into new schedules for
the school year and activities at church start up again. Fall can be a
busy time. I hope this note finds you all well.

I am out volunteering to fight the seemingly unstoppable train known
as HIV/AIDS, this time a little closer to home. Here are some local
statistics:

* The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now estimate that more than one million Americans are living with HIV. Up to one-third of them do not know they are HIV-positive.

*It's estimated that one in every 20 adults in the District of Columbia is infected with HIV.

DC has a higher rate of HIV infection than most sub-Saharan African nations.

*DC has the highest rate of new AIDS cases per 100,000 people in the United States -- a rate that is 12 times the national average.

*In DC, the greatest increase in AIDS cases is occurring among people
of color, women, injection drug users and through heterosexual contact.

*In DC, African-Americans account for eight out of every 10 cases of AIDS.

*More than 15,000 people in the Washington metropolitan area live
with AIDS. Tens of thousands more people are estimated to be infected
with HIV.

It seems overwhelming, doesn't it? How do we get these numbers under control?

Whitman-Walker Clinic is holding a fundraiser and community awareness
project, AIDS Walk Washington. There are many ways you can help. You can volunteer time, you can sign up to walk and raise money (no minimum required), financially sponsor a team, and if you are in no way able to help in these ways, prayers are gratefully accepted.

I am planning to volunteer from 8 am - 12 noon. Please email me if you are interested in signing up with me. Otherwise, please visit the home site www.aidswalkwashington.org to see how you can best use your gifts to serve.

Peace & Blessings!
C

I am proud to say that September was my top earning month for digital downloads. The Summons alone sold 42 tracks alone with Gathered As One coming in second. Thanks so much to all of you who have supported me! If you love my music, tell a friend.

My article "Cantor Express Revealed" will be published in the next NPM Cincinnati Chapter Newsletter. Here's a preview:

“Cantor Express? What’s that all about?” “I’ve been a Cantor for 10, 20, 30 + years, what could I possibly have to learn?” “As a pastor, why should I budget money to send one or more of my music ministers to a Cantor Express Institute?” “My free time is limited, why should I go on a Cantor Express Weekend?” These are the type of questions I have fielded since I registered an NPM Cantor Express Institute Weekend at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

I have been a Cantor for at least a decade and intently so. I attend to local workshops, NPM Conventions, continue to read up on my craft and ministry, and consider myself one who strives for Excellence in Liturgy. Some may consider me a Liturgical Geek, although, I prefer the term “Career Cantor.” I have been formed and groomed by well-educated Liturgist/ Music Directors and a pastor who not only valued educated ministers, but expected them. Having gone through the process of earning my Basic Cantor Certificate (BCC), I wondered what I might learn from this experience. I finally decided to go, realizing that if I truly believe in giving my communities the best I have to offer and motivating others to do the same; I owe it to my ministry to find out what Cantor Express is all about. And, the results are in. No matter what your education, experience, or time in ministry, Cantor Express has something for everyone.

So, for you considering that leap of faith, and for you “Doubting Thomas” types, here’s the breakdown. I will base my feedback on this particular experience as facilitators and facilities vary by location. First things first: who goes to Cantor Express? Most of the participants were local to the Pittsburgh area. Kudos to some parishes that sent (and paid for) six or more of their music ministers to attend. There were the sparse few of us who came from farther out and were the sole representatives of our communities. Going around the room, people introduced themselves as new Cantors looking for a solid foundation, Cantors returning to the Institute for another great experience, more experienced Cantors of a decade or two (or three), and music directors looking for how they can better support the musicians of their parish.

Most locations offer on-site or nearby accommodations. Although they may not be considered 5 star (or 3 star in cases), I feel I got the most out of my time by staying with the other participants in close proximity. The weekend was action packed and I was better able to utilize my time by sleeping instead of traveling as some of the locals did by choice or circumstance. After an early dinner on Friday night and a sharing of what we hoped to gain, we dove right into the thick of it.

Each day had a vocal lesson. There was a lot of good information to be attained by those who hadn’t studied voice, but for those who had, it was a great opportunity to add some new exercises to our warm-up and posturing regimens and reconnect with how important those extra 10 or 15 minutes before an early Mass can be.

As a group we attended lectures on the historical origins of the Cantor ministry, basic psalm study and preparation, what church documents say about the role of Cantor in Liturgy, and how to best use our role as Leaders of Prayer to affect an assembly at a challenging level.

In smaller groups, each of us had 20 minutes to receive personal feedback regarding our presentation, with focus on either vocal or psalm interpretation. Times may vary depending on the overall size of the group, 10-15 minutes is the norm. Those who were beginners received well-worded constructive feedback on being comfortable in front of an assembly, vocal production, diction and gestures. More experienced Cantors were able to receive objective feedback on bad habits we may have picked up over time and new insights to current thinking and technique. We were coached on how to break down walls that may be keeping us from truly engaging with an assembly and connecting more deeply with our text. We received affirmation that, “No, Virginia, performance is not a dirty word in music ministry. It is the art of honing your natural skills for effective ministry.” Other hands-on learning opportunities came in the form of music reading/ sight singing basics or a chance to learn/ practice a language foreign to Post-Vatican II babies: Chant.

During the day, breaks and meal times encouraged questions and story sharing and night prayer wrapped things up each evening (in nice weather, under the stars). After hours is when staying on campus came in handy for some extroverted types. Smaller groups took in local sites and cuisine as newbies dove deeper into conversation with the more experienced. Conversations evolved around topics like “Has This Ever Happened to You?”, “Keeping a Prayerful Presence amid the Unexpected”, and the burning question, “What is the BCC and Why Should I Care?”

So, in case I didn’t answer your question clearly,” What did I get out of my Cantor Express Institute Weekend?” “Who is it for?” Cantor Express is for everyone. I was motivated by the enthusiasm of our facilitators, Joe Simmons and Joanne Werner, and of the Cantors just starting their ministry. I have returned with a deeper, fuller meaning of my role as Cantor that we do not always have time to learn at the parish level. I have been validated that I am far more than a singer and have an awesome opportunity and responsibility to embrace my role as Catechist, Minister of Hospitality, Minister of the Word, and Leader of Prayer. I am proud to say, “For more information on Cantor Express Institute or the BCC, feel free to contact me, Catherine Benskin, Career Cantor, Liturgical Geek.”

Now available for people who ask what Roadies do all week. You want more info on the good, the bad, and the funny to see if you should join up for ALC 7? (Also as further proof that work was involved for those who think I just had fun!) Check this link out. I think the picture of my friend Michael & I crying was snapped while we were watching this.

http://aidslifecycle.typepad.com/alc6/alc_roadie_video.html

Blessings ~ C