Michael R. Prendergast

Michael R. Prendergast has more than 30 years experience as a musician and liturgist at the parish, cathedral and diocesan levels.

A native of the diocese of Helena, Montana, Michael served as the cathedral musician at St. Mary's Cathedral in Fargo, North Dakota. Before coming to Portland in the fall of 2000, he was director of the Office of Worship and Christian Initiation for the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings in Eastern Montana.

Michael has given workshops on liturgy and music in the United States, Canada and Germany. He has been a presenter for the National Pastoral Musicians Association (NPM), the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions (FDLC), the Southwest Liturgical Conference (SWLC) and several diocesan and archdiocesan convocations.

Michael is the editor of the Pastoral Press books Full, Conscious and Active Participation and Voices from the Council. Michael is also the co-author of Parish Liturgy Basics, Revised Edition and Music in the Liturgy for Small Parishes. He is a former liturgy specialist for OCP and editor of Today's Liturgy.

Michael has written on topics related to music and liturgy in Pastoral Music, Rite and Church. He holds a master's in theological studies from Mount Angel Seminary, St. Benedict, Oregon, and a master's in liturgical studies from St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota. Michael is a member of the board of directors of Partners in Preaching, a national ministry of consultation, training and formation for the church's ministry of liturgical preaching.