It's Not About: Setting Aside Personal Preferences for the Mission (Part 1) | Ep. 5
How do you tell whether a parish decision serves the mission or simply your own taste? Khalil Hattar, Fr. Sammie Maletta and Hilary DiTola discuss that challenge through the second principle of Be Disciples, Make Disciples. Fr. Sammie explains why his preference for chant and classical music has not determined every musical choice at St. John the Evangelist. He recalls observing how children and families responded as the parish developed its approach to music at Mass.
Hilary describes changing her mind about screens in church after seeing how they helped visiting family members follow the Mass. She also shares how she became more comfortable leading prayer aloud. Their examples bring the question back to parish leadership: how do we distinguish what we personally enjoy from what helps others participate, while keeping Catholic teaching and reverence for the liturgy in view?
In this episode
- Personal music preferences and the parish’s mission
- Learning from children and families at Mass
- Hilary’s change of mind about screens in church
- Growing more comfortable praying aloud
- Keeping mission and reverence in parish decisions
About the guests
Fr. Sammie Maletta
Fr. Sammie Maletta is pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in St. John, Indiana. His ministry centers on parish renewal, collaborative leadership and the sacramental life of the Church. He works with staff and parish partners to help people encounter Jesus.
Hilary DiTola
Hilary DiTola is the parish accountant at St. John the Evangelist Parish, where she handles bookkeeping and the Parish Finance Council. A Purdue University graduate, she has served in Alpha, the parish festival, the soup kitchen and school volunteering. She values collaborating with fellow parish staff.
