04
Parishioner
JENNIFER MIRANDA Finds
C
hurch choirs have always been an important part of Jennifer Miranda’s life. She grew up watching her father sing at Mass each Sunday. As teenagers and young adults, Jennifer and her sisters joined their dad in the choir. Then in 1997, at St. Ann Catholic Church in Charlotte, Jennifer’s participation in the choir led to one of the greatest blessings of her life as she began to get to know a fellow choir member named Earl. When the director recognized a special spark between the two singers, he urged Earl to ask Jennifer out. And the rest, as they say, is history! Jennifer and Earl have been married for 22 years and have three daughters — Shania, 14; Shay, 13; and Leah, 11. They have been parishioners at St. Philip Neri since a move brought them to the Fort Mill area in 2005. From the first Mass they attended here, the Mirandas immediately noticed the friendly and welcoming atmosphere — and, of course, the great music! Since their first years in the parish, Earl has served as a lector while Jennifer has served as a cantor. Jennifer truly enjoys being a part of our Music Ministry. “Music is meant to enhance the liturgy,” she says. “The cantor’s job
Jennifer and Earl Miranda with their daughters, (from left) Leah, Shay and Shania.
is to inspire people to participate. I think that the liturgy is such an important part of who we are as Catholics, and everything that everybody does at Mass, all those moving pieces, make our liturgy what it is. And I’m just happy to be helpful in that.” Thanks to a personal invitation from Roberta Whitaker — the very first person Jennifer and Earl met in our parish! — Jennifer became the Italian
Festival Co-Chair of indoor entertainment and director of the Italian Idol event. When the Mirandas adopted their three daughters, Jennifer decided she wanted to be involved with their activities as well, so she began teaching faith formation and helping with Vacation Bible School. By staying involved in parish life, Jennifer and Earl are both following the examples of an
