Over the soft, methodical beats of a snare drum, followed by a brief crash of a cymbal, harmonious voices filled the Chapel of St. Joseph, singing “Take up your cross. Deny your- self. Come follow me, follow me.”
The person behind those drums in the campus chapel is Marissa Arnold ’20. Two years ago, Arnold joined the chapel band as a percussionist.
“Faith is something that is somewhat new to my life,” Arnold said. “I joined the Chapel Band to be more involved with music on campus, and I found ministry through that. It was something somewhat unexpected.”
Arnold has been playing percussion for 11 years, beginning in the fourth-grade concert band at Springville Elementary School in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.
When Arnold arrived at St. Joe’s four years ago, she began her musical journey as a member of the St. Joe’s Pep Band, but jumped on the opportunity to join the Chapel Band during her junior year after one of the Chapel Band’s percussionists graduated.
“The Pep Band has given me a lot of joy just being a part of the band and supporting the student body, but music ministry just holds so much more depth to me,” Arnold said. “That’s really what I take out of it, and the relationships I’ve built through it is really what I’ll take with me.”
Joe Molnar ’20, peer minister and chapel choir member, said Arnold’s musical talents are a great asset to the group.
“She can find the rhythm and the groove of [the music] very well,” Molnar said. “And she can do a lot with what’s called auxiliary percussion-things like bongos, shakers, maracas, anything percussive.”
In addition to playing in the band, this year, Arnold has taken on the role of peer minister as well. Peer ministers ensure every mass is organized and prepared for by Sunday morning, said Diane Hankee, campus minister of liturgy and music. They are also responsible for implementing programs that connect students with the Christian faith.
“She is really helpful in creating ideas and running through programs that really align with our faith,” Matt Rodriguez ’22, choir member and peer minister, said.
One of Arnold’s goals has been to unify members of the Chapel Band and the chapel choir, which in the past have operated as two separate groups due to differences in rehearsal times.
“One of my main priorities was for it not to just be the chapel choir and the chapel band but all of us together,” Arnold said. “We’ve really flourished the year as a whole group, rather than just two groups who play together.”
Hanke said Arnold has served as a great “bridge” between the two groups.
“She was very integral in making sure most of the instrumentalists went on our choir retreat, which was great because in the past most of our instrumentalists have not gone,” Hankee said.
Arnold noted her experience with music ministry has led to a growth in her own faith.
“I have really seen myself grow through music ministry by fully embracing this experience and opportunity to learn and gain new perspectives from others,” Arnold said.
One of Arnold’s most important faith role models is her 91-year-old grandmother, Antoinette Vitti, an Italian immigrant who came to America while pregnant with her first child.
“She is very strong and courageous, and I believe this truly stems from her devotion to faith,” Arnold said. “My sister and I always say, ‘She is indestructible.’”
As Arnold has become more involved with music ministry on campus, she said she has sought out her grandmother for advice.
“As I have started to dig deeper in my faith journey at St. Joe’s, she has been a great role model,” Arnold said.
Arnold’s grandmother has also accompanied her on her journey into music ministry.
“You can often find her at the 7 p.m. Sunday Mass, sitting right next to me while I play the drums,” Arnold said. “I feel very proud when she is at Mass because it is now a special bond we share and I am glad she can be a part of it.”
