Aug. 16, 2017

Watertown - For 35 years, Shirley Sauter and her husband, Roy, lived in Black River, a small village with four churches; she played and directed choirs for three of them.

It all began in 1969 when a neighbor asked her to play for his wedding in the Catholic Church since they had no regular organist.  The next year she played for a friend’s wedding in the Methodist Church. 

Soon after, the Episcopal priest asked her to play for Sunday services since his organist had moved.  Within two months, the Methodist organist also moved away.

Using this situation to benefit both churches, each church arranged their services to allow Shirley to attend Mass at the Catholic Church at 9 a.m., then play for the Episcopal Church at 10 and the Methodist Church at 11:15. 

Father William Coffey was assigned to St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Black River in 1971 and within a short time appointed Shirley as Choir Director and Organist.  About 35 people signed up for choir and first performed on Thanksgiving Day, 1971. 

She directed weekly rehearsals and led music at Sunday Masses, and for Holy Week, Easter and Christmas Eve Masses.

She continued to play for three churches for three years, a challenging schedule for a mother with four young children.

In 1972 the Diocesan Department of Worship was formed, consisting of a Liturgy Committee, Music Committee, and an Art and Architecture Committee.  Father Coffee appointed Shirley to the Music Committee for a three-year term.

Organ and guitar
It was at that time that new music was being introduced into the Catholic churches, especially guitar accompaniment, and nationally known composers and liturgists would instruct those present on the new styles.
Shirley had the pleasure to work with composers, Alexander Peloquin, Dan Schutte of the St. Louis Jesuits, and Marty Haugen.  Guitar music was introduced in St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Black River in the 70’s by two high-school girls who studied guitar and played folk music.

In 1971 Shirley began teaching piano lessons in her home, continuing for several years.  Eventually she moved her lessons to the Trillium Music Center in Watertown until retiring in 2014.  She still humbly boasts that many of her students have become music teachers themselves!

When available, she continued to substitute at many churches (Chaumont Presbyterian, United Methodist in Brownville, and Emmanuel Congregational Church in Watertown) as well as playing for weddings and funerals in all the Watertown Churches.

Shirley didn’t just share her talents with churches.  She organized and directed the Black River Fire Department Choir for around ten years.  The choir sang for memorial services at Jefferson County Conventions as well at the NYS Convention.  From 1972-1983 she furnished the organ accompaniment for the Jefferson County Dairy Princess Banquet.

In August 1991, the village of Black River celebrated its centennial.  The clergy and members of the four churches conducted an ecumenical service with the choral program organized and directed by Shirley.

When Shirley’s husband, Roy, retired from New York Casualty Insurance Company in 1992, the couple moved to Pillar Point, but she continued to play at St. Paul’s in Black River until May 2000 when she resigned after almost 30 years.

Black River to Watertown
Looking back upon the year 1969 when Shirley began her career by playing for a wedding, it is only fitting that her final years before retiring begin again with playing for a wedding.

It was a wedding at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church in Watertown in 2000 when Father Andrew Torma, a Missionary of the Sacred Heart, asked her to take the job as Director of Music beginning Sept. 1, 2000.

Throughout the next 17 years, she formed a choir, trained soloists, planned all the music for the Sunday, Holy Days, and special event Masses.  She has worked for three pastors: Missionary of the Sacred Heart Fathers Torma, Richard Kennedy, and Jonas Tandayu, as well as several bishops. 

The “choir family” of 22 members have served this parish as well for many events for the past 17 years. Some members have been with Shirley for around 40 years starting in the choir at Black River.  She sincerely extends her thank you to all for their devotion and commitment.   She also states, “the greatest benefit of being at Sacred Heart Church for 17 years is the friendships I have made.  I thank you all for your support of this music ministry.”

Shirley was honored with a “Goodbye Coffee” after the Masses on June 11 which was attended by many parishioners who wished her well. True to her work ethic, the official retirement day of June 25, 2017 was spent playing for Mass and directing the choir. The day ended at a celebration party with choir members, spouses, friends, and the clergy.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church in Watertown has been truly enriched by Shirley’s ministry and wish her happiness in retirement.
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(Submitted by Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, Watertown)