St. Gerard’s Music Program: Voices from the parish

By Canton Citizen

Editor’s note: Below are statements from parishioners at St. Gerard’s regarding the dismissal of longtime music director Greg Paré, reportedly due to budget constraints. Click here for complete coverage.

Greg Paré’s music was a large part of what made St. Gerard’s a vibrant and welcoming parish, and without any notice, or consulting of the parish community, a unilateral decision was made that will have a lasting and devastating effect on my family, and I believe on the entire St. Gerard’s community. When we broke the news to our 15-year-old son Kevin, who has taken piano lessons from Greg for seven years, his exact words were, “Great. Now St. Gerard’s will be like every other boring church.” Kevin and all the other youth members of our church, musicians or not, are the future of our parish, and the music that Greg provided was a huge part of St. Gerard’s appeal for them. Take that away, and you surely jeopardize the future of our parish. —Diane Hawley

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As a member of St. Gerard’s for the past 13 years, I am deeply saddened and profoundly affected by the elimination of the music program. Greg Paré welcomed all who wished to contribute their time and energy to help make an impact on others’ lives with their voices. The adult choir has several long-term members who have grown and become so passionate about their role at church. They not only gave inspiration, but I’m sure they were inspired themselves as well. I’m sure that working with Greg really enriched their lives. —Maryellen Burchard

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The main reason that we go to church is to worship God. One of the ways to worship God is through music. The music will be greatly missed at St. Gerard’s church. I went to the meeting for some answers about the ending of the music program, and Father Jack explained that he had hired people to run the finances of the parish. Yet the people who manage the finances never stood up to answer any questions at the meeting, which really bothered me. They let Father Jack stand alone and be bombarded with questions. My family and I now have to make a decision whether to stay in the parish or not. —Tommy Lane

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I wonder if those who “pulled the trigger” and terminated the music program have any idea of the impact that it has made on the parish. —Bob Findlen

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Greg Paré himself has brought the love of music into our family and it is because of him our children will be blessed with the beauty and importance of music in our lives both personally and spiritually. For this we will be forever grateful to him. Still the question remains as to why Greg was forced to leave? —Kathy Riordan

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