One of the funniest introductions I had to a staff member here at Saint John was when I met Tom Oram for the first time several years ago. He introduced himself as Tom. I must have had a slightly puzzled look on my face, because without missing a beat, he said “you know, this guy” and he turned around, showcasing the back of his head. Immediately I recognized him as our Musician, whose amazing gifts are on display every Mass and at all the musical events we have here at Saint John. I had only seen him from behind, and that is why his about-face illustration worked perfectly.
I am the Pastoral Musician & Liturgist at Saint John the Evangelist. As such, I oversee the musical life of the parish, as well as the activities of the various ministries on the Liturgical Commission. With Ellie Roberts, I direct the Adult Choir and Children’s Choir, and leads the youth in the Contemporary Ensemble. I hail from Valparaiso, in northwest Indiana, and I am graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, where I majored in Music, Humanities, and Ancient Studies. I earned a Masters degree in Musicology from the University of Michigan, and later studied philosophy and theology at the Catholic University of America while a seminarian for the Diocese of Gary. My wife Martha and I were married by Father John at Saint John in 2011, welcomed our daughter Susannah (Zuzu) in 2012, and are expecting a baby boy in March.
Since that first meeting, I have had the pleasure of working with Tom on some major events and programs here, from the Easter Vigil to Vacation Bible School. His passion for our Catholic faith and our parish community is unparalleled. If you get a chance, please introduce yourself to Tom and get to know the front side of his face, rather than just the back of his head. You will not be disappointed with the intellect, humor and joy that he showcases every day here at Saint John.
St. John’s is always a wonderful place to be, but the greatest joy it brings me is hearing a thousand voices raised together in song to praise the Lord every Mass.