My name is Ellen and I am the Music Director at St. Benedict Catholic Church and School.

I see loneliness in different ways. There’s simple loneliness, such as feeling alone and missing someone. For example, I have a daughter who lives in California. I miss her, so I am lonely for her.

There’s also the feeling of being left out. Professionally, I have felt lonely when decisions were made about things that were important to me and I wasn’t consulted. I think both of those are examples of simple loneliness.

The profound loneliness that I have felt in my life, though, has been when I’ve felt like I didn’t have someone to share something with – that has happened in times of sorrow as well as joy.

When that happens, I try to remember that it’s all for the glory of God and it isn’t about me. And I seek out community. St. Benedict Church is my “family;” it’s how I found community in my life.

The people of St. Benedict have given me the chance to be a part of the community through singing. They encourage me, and I try to encourage them. We share in that. When people are joining me to sing during mass, it really lifts my spirits.

Being a part of a community is about belonging and sharing. We all want to belong. Sharing goes a step beyond. It’s about being there through the highs and the lows.

When we share the sign of peace during mass, it is a beautiful moment. Peace is elusive; it’s so hard to achieve. At that moment we wish peace on each other and see the face of Christ in one another. It’s an amazing gift.

Beyond mass, St. Benedict’s provides so many ways to be a part of the community. You can get involved in Soup & Scripture, join a choir, serve in the youth ministry, or find other ways to connect.

It’s how I have found some of my best friends. I mean, who do I hang out with on the weekends? It’s St. Benedict people. So, I think the opportunities are there to get involved, and I really think that can help alleviate loneliness.