My name is Jasmine Riel. Although my home parish is Christ Our Light, in Cherry Hill, I serve as a cantor at various churches around South Jersey, including St. Andrew the Apostle Church, St. Teresa of Calcutta, and Christ the King. I am also a principal cantor for the Diocese of Camden. You may have seen me at The Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate, the annual Chrism Mass, and the 2023 Eucharistic Congress.
Why have I devoted myself to traveling wherever my ministry takes me? Because of my call to cantorship–to spread the love and word of Christ through the musical gifts I have been blessed with and have chosen to pursue and hone. My music ministry journey began at age six when my mom placed me into the children’s choir at my parish. Traveling allows me to collaborate with talented and loving music ministers at our local parishes. I am grateful to Ellen Estallo for opening-wide the doors to CTK.
Our talented and faithful team of musicians is responsible for beautifying and expanding the liturgy through song and praise. Music that is divinely inspired and purposefully chosen for each liturgy lifts our prayers, resonates with the readings, and we feel closer to God in a meaningful way. All parishioners are part of the music ministry. We hear you singing along or speaking the refrain while at Mass. Our quiet parishioners might hum a Communion hymn on the way to work. However you choose to join us, your participation and engagement connect us and create an uplifting and spiritual experience for the whole church.
From the orchestra Ellen has at her fingertips to the voices of the choir floating from the loft, every CTK music minister invites you to share your faith with the church through song. We pray that heavenly music speaks to you, allowing the word of God to dwell in you in ways beyond our understanding to fulfill your spiritual needs with joy, peace, and comfort.
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:16