Bishop Earl Fernandes announced last eek that he is reinstituting the Office of Divine Worship and appointed a director of music for the diocese.
Father Paul Keller, OP, a parochial vicar at Columbus St. Patrick Church, began serving as the interim director of the diocesan Office of Divine Worship on Dec. 1 while continuing his pastoral duties at the parish.
Dr. Richard Fitzgerald, the director of music and organist at Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral since 2015, will assume additional responsibilities as the diocesan director of music. In that role, he will serve as a consultant on liturgical music to parishes throughout the diocese.
Deacon Tom Berg Jr., the diocesan chancellor, had acted as a consultant on liturgy since the worship office began a reorganization in 2021.
Bishop Fernandes issued the following statement on the appointments:
“This year is the beginning of the Eucharistic Revival. We haven’t been able to do too much in the Diocese of Columbus with the transition to a new bishop and with all the activity surrounding Real Presence Real Future.
“Nevertheless, the Eucharist is the ‘source and summit’ of all life in the Church, and our celebration of the Mass ought to be beautiful and reverent, facilitating the encounter of God with His people, helping our people to experience the Mystery, evoking a sense of awe and wonder and transforming our parishes and lives, so that we live the Eucharistic Mystery.
“With the appointment of Dr. Richard Fitzgerald as Diocesan Director of Music, we have someone who is eminently qualified and who knows the Diocese of Columbus. It was truly remarkable how many people were moved by the beauty of the music at my episcopal ordination.
“Dr. Fitzgerald knows the Church’s musical tradition, understands the reform desired by the Second Vatican Council, and has the ability to work with others, including church music directors, musicians and vocalists. I believe he can bring the same high caliber music to worship throughout the diocese and can guide parishes to have music that is noble, reverent and worthy of the liturgy, directing our worship to God. He is also a gifted composer. It is my hope that his gifts can now be shared more widely throughout the Diocese of Columbus.
“I also want to express my gratitude to Deacon Tom Berg, who in addition to serving as Chancellor, undertook the role of interim Director of the Office of Divine Worship, a role which will now be passed to Father Paul Keller, O.P. Father Keller holds a doctorate in sacramental theology and is the author of a number of books.
“His experience as a university and seminary professor and his theological acumen will make him an outstanding resource for the priests, deacons, and pastoral ministers of the Diocese. His expertise will serve our local church in helping to assure beauty in our celebrations, a proper ars celebrandi, but also in guiding our Diocese with approaching liturgical changes – the change in the formula for absolution; the new translation of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults; the new translation of the Liturgy of the Hours; and the forthcoming translations of the books for the Pastoral Care of the Sick and the Lectionary.
“Recently, the Holy Father wrote a letter Desiderio desideravi on the liturgy. Pope Francis is concerned that we have neglected the very nature of liturgy and liturgical action. Without engaging in the so-called ‘liturgy wars,’ I believe that these two fine men can help our whole Diocese to be renewed in its Eucharistic worship, as we move toward experiencing next year the Eucharistic Revival in our parishes, culminating the following year in the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. We wish both of them well as they begin this service to the Diocese of Columbus.”
Father Keller was ordained to the priesthood on May 21, 1993, in Washington, D.C., for the Dominican order’s Province of St. Joseph. He received his licentiate in sacred theology at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington and his doctorate at Sant’ Anselmo in Rome.
His first assignment was as a parochial vicar at St. Mary Church in New Haven, Connecticut, where he also began his teaching work.
Since then, he has taught at various institutions and made guest appearances on Relevant Radio, the Catholic Channel on Sirius Radio and Vatican Radio, and currently is heard on Catholic Answers Live in addition to preaching retreats and offering lectures throughout the country.
Father Keller is a past president of the Society for Catholic Liturgy and has served on its board of directors. Among the books he has authored are 101 Questions & Answers on the Sacraments of Healing: Penance and Anointing of the Sick; A Lenten Journey with Jesus Christ and St. Thomas Aquinas; and daily meditations called A Year with the Eucharist.
He has edited The Cross of Jesus, written by the 17th century spiritual author Louis Chardon, O.P., and is currently rewriting his Lenten book for republication as well as a book of mediations for Advent and Christmas.
“As part of my responsibilities as interim director of worship, I will be assisting with liturgy planning for the various liturgies at which the bishop presides,” Father Keller said. “I will also be available for answering or responding to questions – theological questions especially dealing with the liturgy that pastors have. I want to be a resource for the bishop and those who have pastoral responsibility.”
Father Keller has spent much of his priesthood involved in various aspects of parochial ministry.
“So, I’m very familiar with liturgy planning,” he said. “The hardest part of my job will be having enough time to respond.”
As a parish priest himself, Father Keller understands the demands on priests who are managing multiple assignments.
“I’m doing two different jobs at the same time, and a lot of them (diocesan priests) are doing the same thing,” he said. “They’re very busy, and I want them to know that I’m in the trenches with them.”
Father Keller’s assignment to Columbus by the Dominican order is his first in the diocese, joining seven other friars at St. Patrick Priory who serve not only St. Patrick Church but in various other ministries that range from teaching to preaching.
“I’m really looking forward to serving the diocese,” Father Keller said.
Fitzgerald has become well known throughout the diocese as the director of music at the cathedral and the beautiful liturgies and concerts taking place there.
Two weeks ago, he coordinated a Gold Mass for diocesan musicians celebrated by Bishop Fernandes at the cathedral, bringing together directors and musicians from diocesan parishes to form a choir that accompanied the liturgy with sacred music.
Also an accomplished composer and arranger for the organ, Fitzgerald has been involved with sacred music for most of his music career. He held positions as assistant and associate director of music at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., from 2003 to 2014 and has presented workshops to a number of organizations, including the Conference of Roman Catholic Cathedral Musicians.
Fitzgerald received his master’s and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in organ performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore and a bachelor of music in sacred music from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey.
“I’m looking forward to embracing this new role,” Fitzgerald said, “and I plan to reach out to diocesan musicians and provide resources.”