Three generations of CTK Ringers: Gerry McCloskey, Rose Miller and Elizabeth Miller
You may have heard a new kind of joyful noise coming from the choir loft this fall: the lovely chimes of the CTK Ringers! Our wonderful Director of Liturgy and Music, Abby Walsh, has pulled Christ the King’s beautiful set of handbells out of storage and reintroduced them as part of our music ministry.
The Christ the King Handbell Choir holds a special place in my heart, as my siblings, mom, and I were dedicated ringers in the 1990s. It was a fun way for us to make music and practice our faith together, and it led to many bell-oriented family jokes over the years.
If you are a longtime parishioner, you may remember that Christ the King’s handbell collection was a generous gift from the Marchesani family, made in memory of their daughter Diane. The Masses, when our choir rings the handbells, offer a lovely tribute to her and a beautiful way to praise God.
When I returned to Haddonfield with my young family eight years ago, rejoining Christ the King Church was part of that homecoming. We have found different, fulfilling ways to engage with the many ministries here, from Walking with Purpose for myself, to Blaze for my oldest daughter, and the children’s choir for all three of my girls. This year, one of my daughters has become a youth cantor and another an altar server, both things I did back myself in the 1990s, and I am so blessed to see my own children doing them today.
But it is hard to top the nostalgia of ringing handbells at church again, this time with my middle daughter and my mom, three generations of handbell ding-a-lings! The current iteration of the CTK Ringers ranges in age from 8 to 80 and has varying degrees of musical experience. We welcome anyone interested in joining our merry band of ringers to chime in by contacting Abby in the parish office.
Psalm 95 tells us, “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord…and extol Him with music and song.” Our handbell choir has offered me the perfect opportunity to put that exhortation into action, as well as a beautiful reminder that the faith we inherit is meant to be shared, rung, and passed from one generation to the next.
Elizabeth McCloskey Miller