Liturgical Music Runs in the Family

by Diocese of Des Moines | April 20, 2026

By Elizabeth Williams

Janelle Kerr cannot remember a time without music in her life.

The Holy Trinity parishioner’s mother was the choir director at their rural, northcentral Iowa Catholic church in Meyer. Everyone in the family, all seven girls and three boys, were expected to take piano lessons.

“I began playing the organ for Mass in seventh grade,” Kerr recalled.

As Kerr’s love of music grew, she felt grateful that God had given her the gift to sing and play piano and organ. Throughout her life, Kerr shared her gift of music, which included playing the organ when she was young, accompanying a special needs choir as an adult, and continuing to serve as she accompanied Life Teen ministry and being a cantor at Mass.

Kerr also encouraged her children to become involved in liturgical music. When the family’s parish in Des Moines had a hard time finding music ministers for 10 p.m. Mass on Christmas Eve, Janelle and her husband, David, volunteered their family of six.

“Our kids were in high school and it became something we enjoyed as a family,” she said.

Kerr’s 28-year-old daughter, Elise, plays piano at St. Boniface’s First Monday Adoration nights, is a cantor, and also is a member of the “Living Water Worship” ensemble. Like her mother, Elise’s journey to liturgical music began with piano lessons, which she began in second grade.

“I’ve always enjoyed how much our family liked music,” Elise said. “It’s what we do when we get together.”

Elise was actively involved with music in high school and then joined the music ministry with National Evangelization Teams (NET) Ministries after graduation. Young adult missionaries with NET conduct Catholic retreats for youth and lead small groups in prayer and fellowship at parishes and Catholic schools around the United States.  Music is so encompassing, Elise notes.

“The beautiful thing about music is it involves all subjects: history, poetry, language, math, science, physics, even anatomy when working on technique,” Elise said.

Janelle Kerr noted that liturgical music can lead you to a closer encounter with Jesus during the Mass.

“It’s the coolest thing to do,” she said. “You see it on the faces of the choir members whether they are singing or playing an instrument. They ‘get it’. They are with the Lord; their faces are glowing. That’s what it is about!”

Elise shared this sentiment, adding that liturgical music builds an “awesome” community centered around praising God.

“It is you giving back to God,” adds Elise. “But you also get a lot out of it.”

Janelle encourages others to get involved in their church choir.

“If a high schooler comes up and says they liked the music at Mass that day, I’ll invite them to join the choir.”

She has found the best way to get others active in music ministry is to offer a personal invitation and be open.  

“I will ask a parishioner if they play an instrument and if they want to accompany a song at Mass. One lady called me and said, ‘My husband plays the harmonica,’” Janelle recalled. “We can find a place for everyone who is interested.”

Also, Janelle noted that it’s important to be flexible.

“We have an ‘open door’ policy and have people tap in and tap opt,” Janelle explained. “Sometimes they sing in the choir and sometimes they may want to pray in a different way in the pew.”

To encourage those who may be uncertain about joining the choir, Janelle advised having an informal, “Hang With The Musicians” event and invite everyone to meet the musicians and see what it’s like.

"The church is a safe setting," Janelle said. “The Mass has so much music built in.”

God has a way to rejuvenate you, Elise noted. Music allows a person to use God’s gift to show God their appreciation, while experiencing the Holy Spirit moving in them.