For the past five years at Saint Louis School, a group of students known as the Music Ministry has played music to enhance the atmosphere during every mass.

Soane Uiagalelei, the head of the school’s Music Ministry program and the twelfth-grade religion teacher, has a great passion for music and leads a music group for his church. He wants to  “use the talents of the students that are already talented to provide music ministry,” expressed Uiagalelei. 

“An opportunity to participate in our liturgies and our mass,”  said Uiagalelei. Music Ministry is not only about playing for mass. It is also to “ really enhance your own talents as well,” expressed Uiagalelei. Uiagalelei learned how to play “ by watching, kind of sitting down, watching my friends play”.  As he shares his thoughts about the students in Music Ministry, he adds, “They all vary in different degrees in terms of how proficient they are with each instrument. Some learning are able to kind of watch and be mentored by those that can play. So by having that exposure, to be able to play.”

Uiagalelei expresses that their role during mass is “to help the rest of the school worship,” Uiagalelei wants people to understand that,  “ We’re there to help you sing along and try to participate, whether you’re not a singer or you just kind of want to enjoy the music. And that’s how I see our role is helping the worship that’s happening.”

Kala’i Kealoha is a student, songwriter, performer, and ukulele player in the Campus Music Ministry. Kealoha expressed how Music Ministry and writing his own music correlate.  “I think it allows me to not only grow my connection closer with God but open up to different genres of music and different styles and understand that there are other people on campus that do enjoy music just in a different way,” shares Kealoha. “You have to see it from that realm to be able to understand what the audience likes as an artist. So there’s multiple ways that I connect myself, but mixing them, it’s just the ability to know both sides of this music and that music.” 

Music Ministry helped Kealoha with his music career by “being able to listen to those that are older than you, that have a little more knowledge than you, and allow you to learn different things along your music journey.” Kealoha adds that “with music ministry, it is a different type of music and different styles of play that I’m not so used to, but I’m able to grow with it.”

One of the main things that Music Ministry has taught Kealoha includes more than music.  “Not only remembering your position where you are at, remembering how to act, whether you’re on campus or off campus, and understanding your role in the music ministry, and just being able to connect yourself with God,” he explains.

Kealoha also recognizes the responsibilities of an upperclassman within the Music Ministry program.  “I’m now a senior and older than most of the students that are part of the group, it’s cool to be able to look back at how I was in their position and be able to help them if they need or be able to just grow together. And hopefully, when I leave, they’re able to take on that position, just keep the band going.”

Kealoha continues to learn how to balance his time between school and extracurricular activities. “I really don’t know. I just do it all. Sometimes, I may not get enough sleep or may not finish homework assignments on time, but I try my best to and I try to even out where I’m able to be with my family, enjoy time with friends, and keep my priorities straight to hopefully reach my goals and have longevity in the end.”

Sophomore Mose Lilo, a guitar player for Music Ministry believes that “Music Ministry can help students create a stronger relationship with God do it through music.”

Uiagalelei also shares what he hopes all the students who go through Music Ministry will take away from the experience. [It’s important to] “understand that the gifts that they get from God are the gifts that they can give, and that playing music is also another form of prayer. To be able to not only just pray by saying stuff and to be memorized, but to be able to use their gifts, their talents, by singing and enjoying probably something that they’d like to do.”