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Liturgical Poetry, Multicultural Fusion, and Giving Up Your Seat at the Table - Part 1

Called to Lead: Pastoral Leadership for Today’s Church

In this episode of Called to Lead, Dr. John Rinaldo sits down with John Flaherty, Special Assistant to the Senior Vice President of Mission and Ministry at Loyola Marymount University and the founding director of LMU’s Pastoral Liturgy and Music Certification Programs. Recently honored with the 2026 NPM Jubilate Deo Award for his substantial contributions to pastoral liturgy in the United States, John brings over four decades of unparalleled experience, including his iconic role as the music director and liturgy chair for the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. Together, they dive deep into the heart of worship. John shares his philosophy that liturgy is fundamentally "poetry and art" rather than a strict checklist of rules. He discusses the vital work of creating authentic, intercultural worship spaces, the formative role of campus ministry, and the radical, synodal invitation for leaders to step back and cede power so that every voice can be heard.