Music Ministry

St. Odilia Musicals 

The MISSION of the St. Odilia Parish Musical is to share the good news of God's unending love and to spread the message of Jesus Christ, by sharing Biblical and life-changing stories through theater and song.

Our purpose is to build community by involving people of all ages, in all aspects of the production, including cast, choir, band, directors, crew and audience.

Our goal is to create a ministry that brings all generations together. God has blessed all of us with many gifts that we are called to share with each other. We will support and encourage one another as we work to spread the message of God's love to all who would hear.
 
The St. Odilia yearly Parish Musical is produced and presented by parishioners of all ages. The Musical is presented typically just before the beginning of Lent in February.  It is a fun event and a wonderful opportunity to get to know members of our community.  This is a large effort for the community and there are "roles" for actors, singers and musicians as well as people who may not want to act or sing. 

Calls go out late in the year for casting and people who can also build sets, work with sound and lighting and other behind-the-scenes activities.  Watch the bulletin for details on when and where you can sign up for this fun activity.       

The Parish Musical is produced and presented by parishioners of all ages.  The Musical is presented typically just before the beginning of Lent in February.  It is a fun event and a wonderful opportunity to get to know members of our community.  This is a large effort for the community and there are "roles" for actors, singers and musicians as well as people who may not want to act or sing.  Calls go out late in the year for casting and people who can also build sets, work sound and lighting and other behind the scenes activities.  Watch the bulletin for details on when and where you can sign up for this fun activity.
 

In 2021 the St. Odilia Musical ministry set out to produce its 30th anniversary production, "It's A Wonderful Life" the musical. After over 90 hours of rehearsal, building, singing etc. we needed to postpone due to COVID. All of our directors and most of the cast and crew returned to finish what we started. And finish we did! What an amazing group of people we have, many of them have put in over 250 hours of time on this show over the past two years.

Parishioners combined with friends of St. Odilia performed another outstanding show. It's a testament to how much this ministry means to our parish. Part of our mission statement is, "St. Odilia Musical Ministry: Sharing biblical and life-changing stories through theater and song" since 1991. Thank you to the many talented volunteers who, by sharing their gifts, made this 30th-anniversary show a huge success. You are greatly appreciated!!

See the St. Odilia Musical Ministry featured in the Shoreview Press! 

St. Odilia Muscial History

1991 ~ Cool in the Furnace
1992 ~ Oh, Jonah
1992 ~ Story Telling Man
1994 ~ He Lived the Good Life
1995 ~ Love Will Be Our Home
1996 ~ no musical due to construction
1997 ~ Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
1998 ~ GODSPELL
1999 ~ Awesome Adventures
2000 ~ Mary's Mission
2001 ~ no musical this year
2002 ~ Oh, Jonah!
2003 ~ Two from Galilee
2004 ~ Children of Eden
2005 ~ The Borrowed Tomb
2006 ~ Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
2007 ~ Fiddler on the Roof
2008 ~ Church Musical
2009 ~ Jesus Christ Superstar
2010 ~ HONK!
2011 ~ The Sound of Music
2012 ~ Magical Musical Tour
2013 ~ Godspell
​2014 ~ The Music Man
2015 ~ Two From Galilee
2016 ~ The Happy Prince
2017 ~ The Wizard of OZ
2018 ~  The Borrowed Tomb
2019 ~  Mary Poppins
2020 ~ ANNE of GREEN GABLES
2021 ~ cancelled due to pandemic
2022 ~ Postponed
2023 ~ It's a Wonderful Life 

 Music is an essential element of liturgy, inspiring people to praise God with one voice in a way the spoken word cannot.  St. Odilia is blessed with a vibrant group of musicians who have formed various ensembles and choirs to serve the music needs of the community. A dedicated community of over 100 parishioners is involved in music, and there are opportunities for as many as want to share their musical gifts. 

For more information or to join call Dave Barkhymer, the Music Director, at (651) 415-3346 or email music.                                               

A parish as large as St. Odilia has many opportunities to share your musical gifts.  Below are descriptions of many of the choirs and ensembles that make up the Music Ministry. 

               

High school age and adult singers.  The choir is in session early September through May.  Rehearsal is on Thursday evenings at 7:30 and the choir sings at most 9:00am Sunday Masses.  No Auditions.  For information, call (651) 415-3346 or email music. 

Email Kathy Lopac (Director) with questions: [email protected].

Six or more groups of five to ten members, singers and instrumentalists, provide music for the liturgical prayer.  Our focus is on spirited, contemporary music that encourages active participation in communal prayer.  For information, call (651) 415-3346 or email music.

For musicians with good music reading skills.  The handbell choir is seeking new members and substitutes! For information, call (651) 415-3346 or email Kathy Lopac.  

Instrumentalists are always in great need, for holidays or to accompany the choir or a contemporary group.  We need trumpets, trombones, flutes, violins and other instruments.

For information, call (651) 415-3346 or email music.

​​​​​​​Assembled for the Parish Mission in Lent, the Holy Week Choir, the Parish Fall Festival Mass in September and Christmas Midnight Mass.  Watch the bulletin for announcements.