Elevating the Sacred Assembly: Jennifer Kluge on the National Association of Catholic Church Musicians

 

How does liturgical music serve as an integral part of Catholic worship rather than a simple add-on? On Driving Home the Faith, host Dr. Ken Craycraft welcomes Jennifer Kluge, Executive Director of the newly renamed National Association of Catholic Church Musicians (formerly the National Association of Pastoral Musicians), to discuss the organization's mission and recent name change.

Kluge shares why the association re-emphasized its explicit Catholic identity as it approaches its 50th anniversary, outlining its national and diocesan programming, webinars, certification programs, and support for Catholic composers. She and Craycraft also explore the three fundamental criteria for evaluating sacred music—the liturgical, musical, and pastoral judgments—demonstrating how proper selection ensures that music remains edifying, theologically sound, and oriented toward fostering a fully active, singing assembly. Stream now to listen!