Father William L. Norvel, SSJ, guest homilist at the Jazz Mass, delivered the homily to over 1,000 people attending the annual liturgy on Oct. 18 at Most Precious Blood Church. Father Norvel is pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Washington, D.C.

"Jazz and the Blues music came from peoples' suffering. This music renews the life-giving spirit," said Father William Norvel in his homily at the Oct. 18 Jazz Mass celebrated at Most Precious Blood Church.

The annual liturgy, which has its roots at Holy Cross Parish, has been held in conjunction with the Texas Jazz Festival for over 30 years and drew over 1,000 people, who filled the large southside church.

Father Norvel, a Josephite priest of Washington, D.C. concelebrated the Mass with Most Precious Blood pastor, Father Bob Dunn.

Using the readings from the Gospel according to Mark, Father Norvel's homily focused on the importance of serving others.

"If you wish to be recognized in God's Kingdom, you must be a slave to all. To be first in God's Kingdom, you must serve the needs of all; be a slave to all. To be God's disciple is a lifetime experience."

Father Norvel urged the faithful to remember that "Jesus was about building the Kingdom of God. Jesus was not about building a kingdom of might or power on earth."

He reminded everyone that "God will judge us on how we serve our brothers and sisters. If we give the warmth of our hearts, it will bring us renewed hope and strength."

The Holy Cross choir members joined by singers from other parishes including St. Patrick, St. Thomas More, St. Pius X, St. John the Baptist and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel raised their voices in praise of the Lord.

A large number of the musical selections came from the Mass of St. Katherine Drexel.

"St. Katherine Drexel was the benefactor who purchased the property (to create) Holy Cross Parish. We attend a black conference held every other year in Houston where we learned the Mass of St. Katherine. We also met the composer of the Mass Kevin Johnson from Our Lady of Lourdes in Atlanta, Georgia," said Marsha Hardeman, director of the Holy Cross Choir and Jazz Mass choir.

Although the Jazz Mass is now held at Most Precious Blood, it originated at Holy Cross Parish, where the first one was celebrated at Christmas midnight Mass in 1973, and then later at Easter, according to Eddie Olivares, one of the organizers of the Texas Jazz Festival.

"Father Thomas Meany, pastor of Holy Cross, suggested that the Jazz Mass be performed in conjunction with the Texas Jazz Festival. We started having the Mass before the festival which at the time the festival was only one day," said Olivarez.

For lifelong members of the Holy Cross Parish and choir, Gloria Hamilton, Carolyn Shaw, Dorothy Collier and Marsha Hardeman, singing at the Jazz Mass is part of their family heritage.

These four women were taught to sing when they attended Holy Cross Catholic School as children.

"The Holy Ghost Sisters taught us how to sing. We learned to harmonize by singing a cappella and using a pitch pipe. We listened keenly to Sister Georgia because there was no piano to use," said Hardeman.

She added that the singers at the Jazz Mass wearing red were members of the Holy Cross Choir. "We are the glue which sort of binds the larger choir together."

"A special thank you should be given to Father Bob Dunn and the Most Precious Blood Parish. We would not be able to present the Jazz Mass if not for his kindness and generosity and of his parish family," said Hardeman.

Olivares believes that the Jazz Mass will continue to be an important feature of the Texas Jazz Festival.

"Beto Garcia, founder of the Texas Jazz Festival, and I have always felt that the Mass was offered to God in gratitude for musicians. The Mass is a prayer for musicians, especially jazz musicians, and for the success of the Jazz Festival," said Olivares.