I'm afraid I have not been prompt in posting properly about the funeral of our friend and colleague Calvert Shenk after his rather sudden death on Saturday, 9 July. For the time being, at least, I shan't attempt anything other than the barest of outlines concerning his funeral. The difficult task of beginning to describe all of the ways in which Cal set the high standard he did as a church musician and as a Christian gentlemen will, I'm sure, be undertaken soon by those who knew him. In the meantime, may the dry nature of this summation be forgiven for so poorly reflecting the warmth and esteem in which he was held.

The funeral was at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, 13 July at Assumption Grotto Church in Detroit, where Cal had worked for his last year. After a lying in state in the vestibule of the church, where many family and friends kneeled to pay their last respects and pray for the repose of his soul, Vierne's Carillon de Westminster was played as a prelude to the Mass. The Gregorian introit Requiem aeternam was sung at the procession, and the Kyrie was chanted. The Responsorial Psalm was chanted in Latin, with the response "Desiderat anima mea ad te, Deus" ("My soul longs for you, O God"). A simple Alleluia was sung. After the homily, the choir sang Cal's Ora pro nobis, followed by the proper chant Domine Iesu Christe at the Offertory. The Sanctus and the Agnus were, of course, chanted to the prescribed tones of the Requiem Mass. At Communion, after the Lux aeterna, the choir sang settings of O Sacrum Convivium and Ave Verum, both by Cal. The Subvenite was chanted at the final commendation, followed by the playing of Cal's Fugue and Toccata on Iste Confessor for the recessional.

The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Eduard Perrone, the Pastor of Assumption Grotto. Fr. John Bustamante and Fr. Eusebius Schwald concelebrated. Bishop John Quinn and Fr. Steven Boguslawski, O.P., Rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, were among the many clergy attending in choir. Mary Beth Pardington and Ray Long directed the Choir of Assumption Grotto Church, with Stephanie Nofar on organ (including the accompanying of the chant propers) with Charles Olegar, who played the Iste Confessor.

The funeral homily was preached by Fr. Perrone. The occasionally pointed homily exhorted the congregation to pray for the repose of Cal's soul, and was infused throughout with an understanding of God's grace as witnessed in Cal's life. The full text is posted at the Assumption Grotto website.

After the funeral, a lunch was hosted in the parish hall. Internment followed at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

The articles which Cal wrote whilst at Assumption Grotto -- in the words of one of our regular contributors, "models of clarity, brevity, and, most of all, thinking with the Church" -- are posted here. Some personal reflections by Fr. Bustamante, a recently ordained priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit, currently Parochial Vicar at Assumption Grotto, and a student of Cal's whilst at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, may be found here.

The Detroit Free Press ran an obituary on 15 July. A somewhat more complete obituary follows:

     Calvert Davies Shenk, 64, formerly of Battle Creek, died peacefully at home in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, on Saturday, July 9, 2005.
     He was born November 21, 1940, in Kansas, the son of Clifford and Bernice Davies Shenk.
     Mr. Shenk graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, in 1962, with a Bachelor of Music degree and the following year with a Masters of Music in Organ Performance and Church Music.
     In October of 1968, he married Ila Conners of Battle Creek. She survives.
     Mr. Shenk worked full-time at various music positions as organist and choir director including St. Henry Parish in Chicago; Armed Forces School of Music in Norfolk, Virginia; St. Philip Parish in Battle Creek, Michigan; St. Catherine Parish in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; the Cathedral of St. Paul and as chant instructor at the Franciscan Monastery in Birmingham, Alabama; assistant professor of music at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan; currently joined the music department at Assumption Grotto Church in Detroit, assisting as organist, chant master, and composer.
     He has worked additionally as Adjunct Instructor at Kellogg Community College, Music Critic for the Battle Creek Enquirer, as Choral Director at St. Philip Catholic Central High School, and as associate director, accompanist, and composer-in-residence for the Battle Creek Boychoir, all in Battle Creek.
     Mr. Shenk is internationally known as concert organist, composer, clinician, and adjudicator.
     As an organ recitalist, Mr. Shenk has performed throughout the Midwest, East, and Southeast, including the American Guild of Organists’ National Convention in Detroit and the inaugural recital on the Appleton organ in Equestrian Hall at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
     Internationally, he presented an organ recital at Église Notre-Dame in Douai, France. He led the St. Catherine Church Choir on a tour of Italy in March of 1987, which included performances in Florence, Assisi, and Rome. At St. Peter’s Basilica, the choir sang for the High Mass on the First Sunday of Lent at the Sala Clementina during a private papal audience.
     Mr. Shenk is a Fellow in the American Guild of Organists and has served as Dean of the Southwest Michigan Chapter, as Michigan State Chairman, as Professional Concerns Chairman of the Milwaukee Chapter, and as Educational Concerns Chairman of the Birmingham, Alabama Chapter. He maintains membership with the Hymn Society of America, the Church Music Association of America, the Conference of Roman Catholic Cathedral Musicians, and the Latin Liturgy Association, among others.
     His particular interests have been Gregorian chant, sacred polyphony, organ performance and improvisation, liturgical ceremony, and the theology of the liturgy.
     In addition to several recordings, Mr. Shenk is published by McAfee Music and GIA Publications, and has written several articles for the American Organist magazine. He was co-author of the Adoremus Hymnal by Ignatius Press and several works for CanticaNova Publications.
     He is survived by his wife; brother-in-law, Kurt Conners; a niece, Janine Dalman; nephew, Matthew Briggs; close friends including Michael and Elaine Opper of Garden City, Michigan; James and Joyce Ryan of Battle Creek; Peter, Daniel, and Michael Ryan, and all their families; and his numerous colleagues and friends.
     Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 12, from 3 to 9 p.m., with a rosary recited at 7 p.m., at the John N. Santeiu & Son Funeral Home, 1139 Inkster Road, Garden City. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 13, at the Assumption Grotto Church, 13770 Gratiot Avenue, Detroit. Burial will be in Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery, Southfield, Michigan.
     Memorial contributions may be made to Assumption Grotto Church and Angela Hospice.