One of the most amazing ways to connect to God is through music and to praise his name and to worship him with lyrics. Some of the most popular Christian artists that a lot of people know are Hillsong United with wonderful songs such as Oceans, and Matt Maher who does a lot of blues… [Read More]
Popular Misconceptions About the Catholic Mass, Part I: Music
A number of liturgical reforms seen in the U.S. since Vatican II were not actually mandated or even recommended by the Council, but were reactionary shifts that had more to do with the culture of the decade – it’s time to revisit those changes. Numerous articles and studies published in recent months and years indicate that without a doubt the Catholic… [Read More]
A Fruit of Discipleship – Authentic Praise and Worship
This summer I had the amazing experience of visiting my friend, Katie Smith, who is a supervisor with the National Evangelization Team (NET) in St. Paul, MN. In case you have not heard of NET, here’s a quick background: NET is devoted to challenging “young Catholics to love Christ and embrace the life of the… [Read More]
Local Workshop for Music Ministry
The arts are a necessary part of the work of the Church. The beauty of good art is not just superficial positive emotions about Jesus, rather beauty is in support and extension of Truth. It requires craftsmanship and skill to execute effectively. In recent generations, with a lack of training and attention on the arts, parishes scrambled to find… [Read More]
Free Tony Melendez Concert May 18
Do you love music? Sunday May 18, 2013, there will be a free concert at Santa Cruz Catholic Church in Buda, TX. Tony Melendez is a world-renowned musician that brings the love of Jesus through his music ministry. He was born in Nicaragua, but has lived in Texas most of his life. Come support a… [Read More]
DCYC 56: Ablaze
The annual Austin Diocesan Catholic Youth Conference (DCYC) was last weekend, January 17-19, 2014 in Waco, Texas. Nearly 2400 teens from around the Diocese participated in DCYC, making it the largest DCYC ever. This year’s theme, Ablaze, was a fitting conclusion to the Year of Faith which ended this past November, reminding teens that, “If… [Read More]
Oct 20 XLT for Austin Diocese Youth
This weekend there is great event for the high school youth of our diocese. There will be hundreds of teens gathered from across the area to come together for mass, a meal, and Eucharistic Adoration. Visit the AustinXLT site for more info. The event will include a keynote presentation by Matt Regitz from Prince of Peace… [Read More]
Z. Randall Stroope’s The Conversion of Saul
David Casper asked this question a few weeks ago in his post: Why does music hold such power over the human heart? In middle and high school, my sanctuary was the choir room. Forget sports (although I did play soccer in high school) and the library, I’d much rather spend before school, after school and… [Read More]
The Theology of Sound Part II: The Key to Beauty
For Part I, click here. In Part I, we talked briefly about how we are part of creation, yet we are set apart from it, and that there is something, some quality about us that the all rest of the universe does not possess. As it turns out, there are many different ways to talk about… [Read More]
“Dream of a Home” Mike Mangione Concert Fundraiser
Austin, TX – Folk-rock singer/songwriter Mike Mangione will be performing at St. Edward’s University Jones Auditorium on July 19th at 8 p.m. with Paul Finley opening. Mike will be performing songs of his latest album, “Red-Winged Blackbird Man,” to hit stores September 3rd, in addition to his established repertoire. Tickets are $15 gen admission and… [Read More]
The Theology of Sound
A question for your consideration: Why does music hold such power over the human heart? Let that percolate for a minute, then read on. As a Catholic musician, I am particularly enamored with two things: theology and sound. I dive passionately into the depths of the Eschaton just as eagerly as I plunge myself headlong… [Read More]
5 Secrets of a Happy Summer at Home
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Ecclesiastes 3:1 Central Texas is amazing place to live. I’ve been here for 10 years and never desire to live elsewhere… unless of course it’s summertime…..when (as a visiting friend once described to me) we feel as though we… [Read More]
Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience – A Review
There are no bounds to Justin Timberlake’s celebrity. Musician, movie star, and all around charismatic figure, JT (as I’ll affectionately call him) had fans running around Austin last week at SXSW with the mere suggestion that he MIGHT make a surprise appearance. While his star has certainly risen over the last several years, it has… [Read More]
A Creation Liturgy [CD Review]
This month, the Denver-based Christian-collective, Gungor released a new album entitled A Creation Liturgy. This past Spring, I wrote a review on an EP released by the band The Brilliance, also based in Denver, after a concert I attended here in Austin featuring both bands. I’ve wanted to write a review of their music for… [Read More]
The Not-So-Famous Last Verses
When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun. We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, Than when we’ve first begun. Do those words sound familiar? No, it’s not a verse from a somewhat well-known poem or a snippet of a quote from a book. It’s actually the last verse from… [Read More]
A Musical Reflection on Lent by The Brilliance [EP Review]
A few weeks ago I went to the most unique Christian music concert I have ever attended. As an artist, I always enjoy supporting the arts that help to promote the faith in visual art and performance art, but I don’t think I saw this coming. On March 1st, I went to the Gungor concert… [Read More]
Singing With A Voice God Loves
During my middle school days I can remember showing up to our religious education nights, filing into the pews and opening up by singing some praise and worship. Now, it’s likely to conclude that a bunch of boys and girls in the beginning of their teen years may not think that singing is the… [Read More]
The Start -Soundwave [CD Release Review]
In the land of barbecue, you’ll find more than just your choice of meats. The band Soundwave, mainly known as the house band for DCYC for the past 3 years, has just released a new album. This small town band from Lockhart, TX shows the extent of their God-given musical talents and offer it as… [Read More]
Hope in Death [A Review of Give Us Rest]
Great music can be some of the most beautiful art, and Christianity is in great need of more of it today. It’s no secret that in contemporary music the Catholic Church is not at its high mark. Personally, I think that Gregorian chant from the Traditional Latin Mass is hard to beat, but I also… [Read More]
