So many Catholics may focus on things like the removal of altar rails, but it would seem that the decay and removal of working pipe organs has been a significantly painful loss for many parishes.

Often these organs were too massive, specialist, and expensive to maintain (or even just to operate them) and that lack often prompted a complete overhaul of a congregation’s repertoire, as guitar-strummers and tambourine-clappers would be called in to fill the gaps.

Even electronic organs could not suffice, as they proved harder to maintain as their unique technologies aged poorly.

Nothing against folk music, but the transition and loss of continuity has really messed with some of us, spiritually.

I am thankful that around these parts, we’ve had some responsible pastors who not only cared about music, but also found the resources to rehabilitate several churches and get their pipe organs updated for the 21st century, with a firm establishment of music ministers who could carry on that legacy for the foreseeable future.