A big thanks to friend and fellow podcaster Sean “The Duct Tape Guy” McGauhey for the following tip about a great upcoming St. Patrick’s Day celebration.  Sean shares:

With a name like Sean McGaughey and being a musician, it is no surprise that I was asked to play a few tunes at my parish’s St. Patrick’s Day social next week.  As I was rehearsing my set of favorite traditional Irish songs, I had an idea.   (Hey where did we go? Days when the rains came.  Down in a holler…”)   For fun, why not have a Catholic Musician’s Ceili  (ceidleigh?  coeli?) using both live streaming performances and spinning videos by Catholic musicians.  The music will not exactly be limited to celtic music because on St. Patrick’s Day, everybody is Irish.

From around 3-5 pm EST on March 17, head on over to catholicroundup.com . I’ll have a link there to my live stream.  I’m planning to play my St. Patrick’s day set live, and then put on my VJ hat, showing videos from some wonderful Cathoic artists.  There may also be live ustream performances by other Catholic musicians to be announced.  Join us live on March 17 at catholicroundup.com .  If you are a Catholic musician who would like to participate in the festivities by streaming a performance, or sending along some videos, drop me a line at catholicroundup@gmail.com.

During the course of this great evening, we had the opportunity to hear Jackie Kelley sing her new song “Stronger”.  I was able to find this video of Jackie online, and I’m so happy to share it with you.  There is something about the words to this song that truly captures what’s in my heart these days.  God has blessed my life so abundantly, and I wake up every day wanting to do more for those around me as a sign of my love for Him.

Lord I want you to know that I am grateful in every way
that’s why the longing in my heart keeps getting stronger every day
through every trial and experience
my love for you is serious
since you have shown me the way…
Stronger by Jackie Kelley

p.s. That dessert up there was up for auction – we weren’t the winning bidders, but I walked away from this night feeling like a true winner for having had such a great date with my husband.

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Please introduce our readers to yourself and your family.

I am Adrianne Powell Price and have been blessed with my husband, Thom, for 23 years.  We have been blessed with our son, Spencer, who is a graduate of homeschooling and is a freshman at the University of Dallas.  We live in Birmingham, AL, where Thom is the Program Director for EWTN’s radio network.  We are blessed with 7 Godchildren and several “adopted Godchildren”.

Please tell us a bit about your musical training and educational background.

I started singing at 12 years of age, began singing professionally at about 15 and graduated from the Univ. of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a BM in Vocal Performance.  Here is where the REAL story of how the Lord has blessed me:  from age 18 – nearly 38, I was plagued with vocal nodules from too much singing (4-5 hours of daily practice at the Conservatory).  It took me 6 years to get my undergraduate degree because I was forever having to go on voice rest.  When I graduated, my professors and doctors told me I’d never be a soloist.  I could lightly sing in choruses, but not have a solo career. That’s what they told me.

I have read that your faith journey took you through a time of separation from the Church.  Would you please expound upon this and let us know how you came back into the fullness of the Church.

I went through a crisis of faith, left the Catholic Church, got into doing regional and national voice overs, went to Los Angeles and got into the film industry, and sang in a choir under Gregorian Chant master, Dr. Paul Salamunovich.  Spencer was born while we were living in LA and it was an older woman who babysat for us who helped to bring us back into the Catholic Church by her zeal for the Church and by her example.

How have you come to focus on the type of music you now perform?

We moved to Minneapolis for awhile, had an incredible conversion experience while being parishioners of Holy Family Church, in St. Louis Park, MN.  Within 1 1/2 years of living in Minneapolis, the Lord answered our prayer of him finding work in a Christ-centered company.  EWTN hired him to come work for the radio network.  On the feast of St. Blaise in 1998, I surrendered my singing voice and nodules and begged the Lord to heal me of the nodules.  I prayed, “Lord, if the healing of my voice aids in the salvation of my soul or anyone who hears me, through the intercession of St. Blaise, please heal me.”  To this day, I have had no sign of ever having nodules.  There are no scars.  The Lord healed me and this CD is my way of saying “Thank You, Jesus, for hearing my prayer.  For You, I will only sing sacred music to thank You for all You have done for me.”

What type of music do you enjoy personally?

I enjoy listening to a variety of music.  It all depends on what my mood is.  I really enjoy Sacred polyphony and Gregorian chant, but I also enjoy Pop Classical music (like Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Il Divo, and the Swingle Singers); Renaissance and Baroque music (a GREAT singer of that genre is Julianne Baird); and oldies (Frank Sinatra, Louis Prima, Rosemary Clooney).

With Lent coming up, how does music play a part in your family’s devotions?

Music plays an important part of Lent, as it should throughout the year.  I decorate my home with touches of purple during Advent and Lent; white during Christmas and Easter; and green during Ordinary time, usually with colored candles that are kept lit most of the time.  I try to do the same with the music I play.  This is a time of solemn reflection and anticipation.  When we go to the market or other stores, we’re bombarded with loud secular Christmas music.  Our homes should be a refuge from the world, where peace and prayerfulness is something we try to experience within ourselves and provide for those around us.  Hopefully, we can carry that prayerful peace out into the world.  Soft Gregorian chant is helpful.  I also enjoy an album I found by the Van Trapp family that I play all year round.

A bit of advice I’d like to pass on to parents of teens:  playing sacred music softly in the background helps to keep everyone’s moods calm and I believe the devil just hates it when we play that kind of music, too.  It sure helped us get through a couple of difficult years with our teen!

How can listeners learn more about your music and order your CD?

For more information about “Sacred Classics” go to:  www.adrianneprice.com

Go to the newly redesigned and very spiffy website of Aftermass Records to read all about this team effort.  Fifteen awesome songs, two uplifting videos and your opportunity to help make a difference with your prayers and support – it all awaits you at www.aftermassrecords.com.  As I’m writing this, I’m jamming to some great music by some of my favorites and a few newly discovered friends too. I have to say that I’m absolutely in love with “Simple Song” by Rich Dittus, and the Popple guys already know how much I LOVE “Salt & Light”.  With this download you’ll get these, and tons of other great songs as well – lots of different styles, but all great music!

I hope we’ll all support this amazing effort – if you’re a blogger, please help me share this good news by posting this on your site, or share it with your friends at Facebook.  Great job Aftermass!

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Please briefly introduce yourself and your family.

My name is Lisa Howard and I am 32 years old. I have been married to my Husband, Adam for 5 and a half years and we have 3 children named Matilda who is 3 and a half years, Tristan who is 2 and a half years, and baby Quinlann who is now 12 months old.

I am a full time Mother and work from home part time, teaching singing to people of all ages.

Please share about your musical background- is this your first CD? What led you into the music field and enabled you to produce this lovely CD?

I have been classically trained as a Soprano since the age of 14and continue to have the occasional lesson for a “tune up”.  I completed my Associate Diploma of Music at the Australian Institute of Music and continued to perform in various shows for other musicians and directors (during my studies) as well as my own shows and solo work in Perth, Sydney and Overseas in London.

I now sing in my local parish as well as impromptu performances about town or for the promotion of the CD. My most recent and major performance was singing at the World Youth Day Festival at Darling Harbour in Sydney last year.

Whispers of My Spirit is my debut album.  I was led into the music field by my passion and the need to sing.

First of all I wanted to pursue a career in Musical Theatre, however, I was never content and didn’t really believe in what I was doing. It lacked my focus and vocal purpose……I just didn’t seem to fit in.

It wasn’t until I personally experienced the Love of God in my life after going back to the church, that I realised how much I desired to sing for God on all levels of my being.

When I began to sing in Church, people felt closer to God and became emotionally charged. It was through this, and my own faith walk, that I wanted to help people and give so much more than just singing at a Sunday Mass. I wanted to be instrumental in God’s healing Love through my singing and music.

I prayed, fasted and discerned about it a lot more than “usual”.  I had a desire and yearning to make a healing CD. I didn’t know when? or how? But I knew I would do it. It was through being open to God’s will and I would bump into musicians,  people in the industry, and  people from reputable music institutes.  They were able to help me, and could hear what I wanted to do.

The prospect of pursuing this project further on both sides was becoming evident. They were excited creatively, having not worked on a project similar to mine.  I may add that this discernment period became at times very frustrating due to many set backs along the way but the desire to continue was still there.

Can you tell us a bit about the process of selecting the songs for the CD and the actual recording process?

The selection of the 4 copyright songs completed the ‘healing’ theme for the CD and having sung them before they held a special place in my heart.

The 4 copyright songs on the CD were also fitting for the other 6 originals that were my own prayers, and they each flowed on from the other working towards ministry.

I wanted to make the CD a healing/prayerful journey opening up with ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ and ending it lightly with God’s blessing and reassurance, hence the last song being ‘The Lord Bless You and keep You’.

In regards to the recording process I had 2 solid hours every Saturday over a 10 week period, to work with an arranger and figure out musically how the songs were to be structured and the overall  musical theme and tune of the song.  We would quickly record them with the piano backing and then pass them through to another arranger/composer to complete the final orchestrations and have all the songs completed, edited ready for the real and final recording.

Being 7 and a half months pregnant for the final recording, time was of the essence due to the restrictions I had with breathing and the expectation of  solid vocal quality within the songs.  I worked one full solid day from 10am -5pm over a 3 and a half week period.

To cut down on major costs in regards to studio hiring and labour, the production manager maintained a state of the art home studio set up with hi-tech equipment and modern music programmes that had come about from the U.S.  This programme was very effective in helping me achieve the overall sound and feeling of the CD.

The music is predominantly piano and strings. The songs had been pre-recorded with the pianist and arranger making changes to suit the style and theme of the CD. This was also done in their own time, and we would maintain contact via the web. The backing music for the songs on the CD had previously been pre recorded and were ready to be used purely for the vocal recording.

In this instance, it reduced the amount of ‘recording live’ sessions, and the necessity of all the musicians together at one time, which was incredibly impossible due to their own work demands elsewhere.

As a busy wife and mum, how do you find the time for your music? How does being a mum impact upon your creative process?

My time for my music can range however, when I am doing monotonous chores like the dishes, I feel and hear God’s presence of music and will quickly jot down the words or tune.

During the children’s sleep time I try and journal  or just sit and contemplate. Praying the Rosary (sometimes not finished) helps me unwind as well.

I have been extremely blessed with a supportive husband who allows me to achieve and if it’s viable, he can take care of the children for a couple of hours on a week-end or week night.  Unity and compromise have won, however, this stage of our relationship can sometimes take little longer than others!

In the long run it means that we are both happy and supportive of each other, which works (prayer helps too).

Being a mum, I think makes me so much more creative than any other time for the reason, that every emotion and feeling within myself is challenged and discovered, it creates an opportunity to express that into song.

You experience love on so many levels because of the love you have for your children and this is a reflection of God’s love for us.  Love is always a core catalyst to express something creative and beautiful if it’s for someone or something.

Having 3 young dependant children I am very limited to my spare time that when I have an opportunity, I maximise it wisely and push that little bit further than what I could the day before. This keeps me focused on quality.

I may add that my continued pregnancies within this period made me more determined to finish what I started.

On a more serious level, the birth of my first baby Daughter was extremely traumatic and our lives were in God’s hands. I was tested severely in trusting God, my faith and how he allows situations to happen that aren’t joyful, but will one day fit a much greater and bigger picture in his plan for us.

It was through this experience I embraced Motherhood so soundly. I retreated more within myself to search and pray on a deeper level and the completion of my songs for the CD came about.  I had once again experienced God, and his healing Love for me on a deeper level than previously before.

It took a while to make the decision of “yes” I am going to physically make a CD and the time is nigh, because I was struggling with the fact that I had this most precious, gorgeous and healthy baby girl and I was loving Motherhood but I still yearned to sing and keep focused on my dream.

I felt guilty due to the fact I had achieved something so incredibly wonderful and I should just be content with that.

I experienced an inner struggle of thinking is this me and my human level of selfishness? Or is it really God’s will? as the desire consistently consumed my thoughts and who I was as a Mother and myself, Lisa Howard.

I have always been passionate about being a Mother and being able to maintain my singing alongside fulfilling my dreams and desires, particularly if they were from God. I kept asking in prayer that “surely with the grace and being Gods will it’s possible to combine both.”

I knew there was only one way to find out and that was to step out in faith and make the first move in getting started.

In a nut shell my introduction into Motherhood was raw and real, but through this initial phase, it catapulted me into making a healing CD with the completed written material content for my songs.

How has your faith journey influenced your work as a musician?

When I decided to come back to my faith, I experienced Gods love in an overwhelming way that my whole self and direction in life changed.

My Mum having been a witness to me during this moment, also had a deeper conversion and healing.  I realised in heart, mind, body and spirit that God had created me for his purpose and I was excited to find out.

My original plan didn’t work out, so I was open to letting go of everything and just wait on God seeing that he gave me life in the first place and I was prepared to give it back to him.

Through this year of transition and growth God took me on my own journey of healing and forgiveness of my past (prior to my daughter’s birth scenario) that I gained an understanding as to why I had made many mistakes and choices.

Over time I didn’t realise I had morphed myself into somebody I wasn’t. I was actually running away from the real me, who was actually a broken, vulnerable person and had been for a very long time. The career and life I was chasing was a bandaid I kept replacing.

It took grace to find this out and have a deeper understanding to the poignant questions in life.

In this particular year I continued to journal my experiences, and there a pattern emerged of prayers that were the actual beginning material for my songs on the CD.

I felt that one day I wanted to share Gods healing Love with so many. And I didn’t want the songs to be ‘fluffy’ , As Gods true joy is experienced in great suffering and we can truly appreciate a blessing when it comes.

I wanted the songs to portray the effect of our humanity with God, and the realness of our relationship with him.

Circumstances in life beyond our control can really hurt sometimes, but  become pivotal in changing our whole being and direct us to do something good, give purpose and most of all give God the Glory.

In embracing the cross I found who I was, what I was running from and what I needed to do.

I couldn’t keep the Miraculous Lord to myself , and I have never believed in something so much, that I couldn’t not share it.

The CD had become a desire by then, however the birth of my first daughter was the conclusive point in which I made the commitment to make the CD really happen.

What has been really refreshing of late is hearing how some of the words in the songs have really touched people deeply. What I love most is that in my moments of hardship and pain, God has used this to annoint somone else and the suffering isn’t in vain. It actually has power to turn someones heart around ……….back to God.

Who are some of your favourite musicians and musical influences?

I would have to say that I have a fair list of names. They are predominantly known for their singing. They are:

Enya , Sarah Brightman, Lisa Gerrard , Cecilia, The Secret Garden and Marina Prior.

I fell in love with the music from The Passion of the Christ, and Lord of the Rings.

How can readers learn more about your music or order your CD?

Whispers of my Spirit is my debut album. You can order it on line on my website www.lisahoward.com.au. It’s $20 AUS plus postage and handling. I usually work on a cheque or wire transfer for purchase.  Otherwise it is stocked in the Catholic bookshop Shop here in Perth, W.A.  I am thinking that my website is more convenient and a better way to purchase.  You can actually view and listen to the songs on my website.

The website is updated with information from time to time and I am currently working on an information page, as well as material towards further promotion and another CD.

Are there any additional comments you’d like to share with our readers?

I am most grateful for your support.  Motherhood is by far the highest and best vocation God calls us to and what more of a role model could we have than ‘Our Lady’ . I must say that a lot of her intercession has kept me grounded and still continues to do so today.  Your children don’t always do as they are asked and God can minister his healing Love to us in the best of times !!

God Bless You greatly.

For more information on the music of Lisa Howard visit her website at http://www.lisahoward.com.au/

What if Jesus said to you that He only wanted one New Year’s Resolution. With that as a premise — Deacon Tom explores what ONE THING he would resolve in 2010. And what might your’s be?

Sarah Reinhard shares her struggle with resolutions and a suggestion from My Ideal: Jesus, Son of Mary, by Fr. Emil Neubert.

Please consider joining us in support of the SQPN.com Giving Campaign.  Your donations will help us to continue in this important evangelization work.

This episode of Catholic Moments is sponsored by CatholicMatch.com, the Leading Catholic Singles Community.  Share your feedback at 206-339-9272, comment here on the blog or email lisa@catholicmom.com.

Links for this Episode:

• Annie Karto
• A Conversation with Dan and Ry
• SQPN Giving Campaign
• Yoursphere
• Current CatholicMom.com Contests
• CatholicMom.com Book Club
• The Catholic Company
• Lisa’s Facebook Profile, SQPN Connect Page, Plurk, Twitter
• Catholic Mom Logo Store

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Alma Mater is a stirring and highly emotional collection of eight original pieces of modern classical music. The release is a true event, marking the very first time that the Voice of Pope Benedict XVI has been captured on disc, speaking and singing in Latin, Italian, Portuguese, French and German, thanks to the audio recordings of Vatican Radio.  Proceeds from the album sales will be used to provide music education for underprivileged children around the world.

The album will feature His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, reciting and singing passages and prayers, accompanied by The Choir of the Philharmonic Academy of Rome, conducted by Monsignor Pablo Colino, Maestro Emeritus of St. Peter’s Basilica and recorded in St Peter’s Basilica. The world famous Royal Philharmonic Orchestra plays on all of the specially commissioned contemporary tracks, and was recorded at the iconic Abbey Road studios in London.

Simon Boswell, Stefano Mainetti and Nour Eddine are the three contemporary composers who have contributed the eight specially commissioned pieces of music for Alma Mater.   Vincent Messina, producer of Alma Mater, commented, “These three composers are world class and my first choices for the album.  A happy co-incidence is that Stefano is Catholic, Simon is ‘undeclared’ and Nour Eddine is Muslim, thus perfectly representing our aim to produce an album that has universal appeal to all of those who love beautiful music.”   Collectively, the trio of writers boasts an impressive resume of film scores, TV series and stage productions from around the world.

The CD is now available for purchase through Ignatius Press.  Additionally, if you would like to share this wonderful music with others, why not consider sending a lovely Alma Mater e-card here?  You can also download two songs from the CD by visiting this website.

To enter to win this contest, you must leave a comment on this post with a valid email address (which won’t be published or shared) before Midnight PST on December 22, 2009.  I’ll draw five random winners and announce the winners when the contest has ended.

Update: Our lucky winners are Carmella (#10), Kayla (#37), Christine (#23), Susan (#34) and Shelly (#5). Your prizes will be sent soon.  Take a look at our other CatholicMom.com contests for more great chances to win!

Sarah Reinhard brings us a Mary Moment with Deacon flair!  Sarah and Deacon Tom Fox discuss devotion to the Blessed Mother, including the self consecration to Mary, Louis de Montfort’s True Devotion to Mary, the Madonna House, and Sarah’s column on Our Lady of Combermere.  Don’t forget to contact Deacon Tom at his Catholic Vitamins podcast to get one of the free copies of the “Discerning Your Gifts” brochure.

We close the show this week with a debut of the terrific Popple song Salt and Light from their new CD “Hip Hip Hooray”.  Check out the Popple website and download or order your copy of Hip Hip Hooray today.

We are thrilled to announce our partnership with CatholicMatch.com as they begin sponsoring this podcast.  Please support CatholicMatch.com and be sure to enter our current CatholicMatch.com for your opportunity to win a three month membership to the Leading Catholic Singles Community.

This episode of Catholic Moments is sponsored by CatholicMatch.com, the Leading Catholic Singles Community.  Share your feedback at 206-339-9272, comment here on the blog or email lisa@catholicmom.com.

Links for this Episode:

• Fr. Andrew Gawrych, C.S.C.:
  • The Cross, Our Only Hope: Daily Reflections in the Holy Cross Tradition
  • The Gift of Hope: Advent and Christmas Reflections in the Holy Cross Tradition
  • The Gift of the Cross: Lenten Reflections in the Holy Cross Tradition
• Current CatholicMom.com Contests – Rosary Workout Book Contest, CatholicMatch.com Membership Contest
• CatholicMom.com Book Club
• The Catholic Company
• Lisa’s Facebook Profile, SQPN Connect Page, Plurk, Twitter
• Catholic Mom Logo Store

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Please introduce us to yourself and your family.

People call me Sean Clive – probably because my mom and dad gave me that name.  I love being married to Jennifer (Buckley) Clive – high school sweetheart, college sweetheart, married since 1995.  I am the lucky dad to five children (so far) – Emma, Maggie, Brigid (Biddie), Seamus and Eoin (pronounced Owen) – affectionately known as the “Clive Five”.  Both Jen and I are the oldest of 5 children.  So the excitement of our family life has been ingrained for many years.  We live in beautiful upstate NY (central NY – near Utica) right between the Clive and the Buckley homesteads – close to everything and everyone.  We are parishioners of St. Patrick-St. Anthony Parish in Chadwicks, NY (where I grew up).  I am the choir / music director at the parish (and have been since 1994).  Although I sing at 2 Masses on Sunday, Jen brings the wee ones to 10:30 Mass when people are the friendliest to lots of crazy kids.

How did you come to a career in music, and specifically a career in Catholic music?

I grew up in a house where music was always present – my mom LOVED to sing.  She was also one of those extremely loving and insightful moms.  She knew what was best for me and what I would enjoy long before I had a clue.  It was my mom who set me up with guitar lessons and pushed me to join the school choir – when being a boy and singing in choir were generally mutually exclusive and definitely not “cool”.  In college as part of the Colgate 13 (an all-male acapella singing group – check out I Can See Clearly Now on the Double Indemnity Album – http://www.colgate13.com/album_info.php?AlbumID=19), my fear of audiences slowly faded and my enjoyment for performance increased.  Upon graduating, our new priest was told (by my mom) that I would be willing to lead the then new music program at St. Anthony’s.  I have been doing that since.

I loved music ministry in the Church – especially when everyone sings.  I have been blessd with a parish of singers.  But I have loved all kinds of music since I was a boy.  So, I felt compelled to begin to put the two together.  I am Catholic and love my faith – I am a musician and love music, so combine the two and you get me.  Of course, I would not classify my own music as all that liturgical (though some songs can be used liturgically – such as the Glory To God from Amazed).  Much of my music is more – listen, relate and enjoy music.

I should say that my Catholic music “career” is part-time as I still need to support a family of five hungry caterpillars.  God blessed me with a great job right after I completed college which has given me the opportunity to also glorify Him through my family and my music.  But, after many, many hours of prayer and discernment, we feel that full-time music ministry is not what we are called to do (at this time).  If God has other plans, which is His perogative, we’re ready for the challenge.

Please give us an overview of What I’ve Settled For.  What inspired the CD and how does it differ from Amazed?

WISF is basically Amazed on a light steroid regimen.  The new CD involved the same people as Amazed (my wife and I, David Smith, producer extraordinaire and Jacob Souva, graphic design and artist), so it is similar in that way.  It is also similar to Amazed in that the music is a little different than what is out there right now in both Christian music and Catholic music especially regarding production, songwriting and presentation.  The new CD, like Amazed, is a truly “indie” project.  It was funded through the generosity of our friends, fans and family.  Both are the result of an outpouring of love from everyone involved -from prayers and words of encouragement to generous monetary gifts.

With WISF, however, the songs are more personal in nature, more mature, more about me / us.  They were written over a longer period of time and most are about things that we have experienced (that most of us experience in one way or another) as Catholics, as family, as parents, as friends, as spouses, as children of God.  The songs deal with struggles and pain as well as joy and love.  Of course there are the strong praise songs (especially The Everlasting which won the Christian category  in the 2007 Songdoor International Songwriting Competition) and Christ Reigns (written by Dave Smith and Nick Cardilino who cowrote the 2007 NCYC Theme song “Discover the Way”).

Each album we’ve released has had a song for or inspired by my mom (who died in 1997 of breast cancer).  She was the kind of person who shared her faith whether you knew it our not through her words and the way she lived her life.  This CD is like her – the songs are about regular life through the eyes of a regular old cradle Catholic, who loves his family and his God more than anything else.  It is really the kind of CD that anyone can enjoy.  If you don’t like guitar, you might be out of luck.  I think the CD “rocks”, as does our auxilliary bishop who loved the music when he heard it.

Speaking of Amazed, what was it like to win the recognition you earned as Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year at the Unity Awards?

We actually won Pop/Contemporary Album, Producer and Graphic Design, too.  So I was completely blown away!  I really couldn’t believe it.  I get choked up even now thinking about it.  But it was really great, especially since people still say, “who?”.  It’s nice to be unknown so that I don’t have to deflate my head too much.  There is little pressure when you’re down here doing my music thing with God at the helm.  When you don’t have the record deals to deal with, you rely completely on God’s blessings through other people to make things happen.  But it was pretty cool to hear my name so many times during the awards.  I really did not expect that response.  It was an honor to be considered amidst the many talent Catholic musicians from around the world.  And lucky me – I got to announce Jaime Cortez’s award – I love his music!

Of course, it never would have happened without Dave Smith who helped to make the song (and CD) what it is.  He really poured so much of himself into it – I am so glad to share the awards with him.  The recognition really was one of those moments when the unknown can use what God has given and come away with the gold without anyone really knowing.

Back to “What I’ve Settled For”, what are some of your favorite songs on the CD and the stories behind them?

I really love all the songs on the CD, but my favorites are listed below.

Radio-friendly faves -

The Everlasting – This song is based on Psalm 90 and was written with Dave Smith in about 3 hours.  This is the song that won the Christian Category of the Songdoor Competition.

Into Your Arms – This song was written as I reflected on my mom’s life and death and also the then current struggles of a family friend and fellow parishioner, Richard Kies.  He was struggling with cancer and like my mom, even near the end, was able to come to Jesus in the Eucharist as He came to them to fill them with His presence.  The image I pictured was based on my own imagination of how it is at that last breath as we fall into Jesus’ outstretched arms into eternity.

Christ Reigns – Dave Smith teamed up with Nick Cardilino (co-writers of the NCYC 2007 theme song Discover The Way) to write this powerful song.  It was inspired by the theme for the 2009 NCYC Kansas City event.  When I heard this song, I LOVED it and loved singing it.

Personal faves -

The First Day – a rock song written for my new baby, Eoin.  It follows him from birth to when he eventually leaves the nest (sniff, sniff).

Just What I’ve Settled For – With 5 kids, the looks, the stares, the questions are sometimes overwhelming.  It is so easy to share your faith when the subject of conversation is your “big” family.

Kids Are Great – my tongue-in-cheek song for my #3 baby.  She is the “one” every family has one of.  And she is SO AWESOME!  She’s just sometimes a little much.  “The stories are true and I’m not lyin’ a day with Biddie might leave you cryin’”

Ordinary Way – My tip of the hat to one of my favorite sonwriters, David Gates.  I love his music and I love my wofe, so this is my love song to her.  I wish it was more.  But sometimes what it is, is all it needs to be.

Turn Away – Much of the lyric for this song was penned by my wife, Jen.  It was based on a troubling experience and the thought that the same could happen to one of our babies.

What has it been like to work with such a talented producer as Dave Smith?

God has blessed me with a great friend who happens to be (in my opinion), one of the best producers out there.  I am so grateful that our paths crossed the way they did.  I trust Dave with my songs (and if we lived closer, I’d trust him to watch my kids ).  I send him a song, he knows what I like and then he sets it up with his instrumentation.  It is amazing.  Sometimes he surprises me on his take to a song, other times it ends up exactlty how I had envisioned it.  What is also so awesome is that we share a faith and a similar perspective on life.  We love God, we love our wives and our kids, and we love to share good music with people.  I hope that more people recognize and work with this amazing man and producer.  I also hope that God keeps us working together well into the future.

Who are some of your musical influences, both Catholic and secular?

I feel like I’m influenced by everything that is good out there – at least the good stuff I like.  Beatles, Matt Maher, Steven Curtis Chapman, Joel Hanson (PFR), Bread (David Gates), Switchfoot, Moody Blues, Chicago, 80s hair bands, 70s soft rock bands, celtic bands, and so many others – I just love a good song even if it is cheesy Barry Manilow or some random disco song or a cool folk song by John Gorka.  Growing up, my mother was a showtunes fan – she was Maria in the Sound of Music in High School, so by 5 years old, I had memorized the soundtrack.  Music was all around all the time.  I actually have a hard time in the silence.

What are your plans now that the CD has been released?  What comes next for you musically and personally?

My hope is to do at leat 2 concerts / gigs a month (above my regular church responsibilities).  Since I like to include my kids in the concerts, it makes for a family friendly night (or afternoon or weekend) and keeps us all together.  I hate being away from home – it just rips me apart to go to sleep without kissing all my babies goodnight.  Like the Journey song”Faithfully”, beaing apart ain’t easy.  And my heart really can’t take too much of it.

We are in the process of setting up some concerts herre in NY and the Northeast.  So, perhaps people will be able to make a show or two.  I would love to be part of some of the big Catholic events like Steubenville East and Proud 2B Catholic.  But the doors have not yet opened for those events, yet.

Personally, the garden we grew for the first time last year doubled in size this spring, so that will keep us busy with tomato plants, peppers, pumpkins, etc…  I also hope to get out and fish with the kids a little more this year.  This year I promised my Emma that I would not hook her like I did last year.  I think I’ll be praying to all the apostles as so many were fishermen.

Are there any additional thoughts you’d like to share with our readers?

Feel free to check out the music for free (it streams free – both of the new CDs – on my website).  If they are in the Northeast, keep me in mind for concerts or events.  We have a van for the fam and are ready to travel.

We love to hear what people think of our music – compliments only

Visit Sean Clive at www.SeanClive.com.

Best wishes to CatholicTV for their upcoming annual telethon – if you love Catholic music, this sounds like a perfect opportunity to tune in and catch some of your favorites, or discover new talent you’ve never known before.  Thanks to my friend Chris from CatholicTV for sharing this information:

Numerous Catholic artists will donate their time and talents in support of their faith at the annual CatholicTV telethon. These musicians include Vince Ambrosetti, who was invited to perform at Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s funeral Mass. Also to perform will be Michael John Poirier, who has produced 10 CD’s. All musicians will perform on a volunteer basis. CatholicTV is a non-profit corporation.

CatholicTV is a nationally-broadcasted television network headquartered near Boston. CatholicTV streams its broadcast simultaneously, 24 hours a day at www.CatholicTV.com

The CatholicTV telethon is one of the most unique live television broadcasts in the nation. It is unique because it involves an almost unheard-of 12 hours of live television made possible through large amounts of coffee and dedication to the faith. The telethon will air on September 25th and 26th from 9AM to 9PM each day. Some musicians perform live while other performances are previously recorded.

Below are notable singers along with the times of their performances on the CatholicTV telethon (all time are Eastern). Musicians include but are not limited to: Michael John Poirier, Tom Snow, Kitty Cleveland, Gabriel Rivera, STANN, Paul Melley, Anne DiSanto, Vince Ambrosetti, Susan Glancy, Susan Bailey, Terry Donilon, Diana Doyle, Fr. Chris Hickey, Fr. Paul Rouse, Heather Waxman, and Anne Marie David. Not all performances are listed below:

Friday, September 25th

11:30am- Michael John Poirier- Singer from Oklahoma, has released 10 music CD’s, a storytelling CD, an advent CD and a special interview CD just for men. He uses his music and storytelling as he travels around the country conducting evenings of prayer-songs and Eucharistic adoration. www.holyfamilynow.com

12:20pm Tom Snow- Tom is a jazz pianist, performer, and arranger. He has performed in the US, Canada, the Caribbean and Australia. A native of Maine, Tom has produced three CD’s. www.tomsnow.com

1:10pm Kitty Cleveland-Award-winning singer, songwriter and speaker has been performing for over 25 years around the country and at the Vatican. www.kittycleveland.com

2:00pm Gabriel Rivera- actor and singer who has toured the country performing songs from his debut CD. www.gabrielriveramusic.com

2:50pm STANN- band of former members of St. Ann University parish performing a wide variety of musical stylings with a variety of guest soloists.

5:50 Paul Melley- Paul has performed throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe including two World Youth Days.www.paulmelley.com

7:05 Anne DiSanto- credits include “Year Of Hope” selected by Pope John Paul II as a Papal anthem, “Flame Of Liberty”, a 9-11 tribute used for Veteran’s fundraising efforts.

7:50 Vince Anbrosetti- singer and mission leader. Vince has recorded numerous CD’s. www.vinceambrosetti.org

Saturday September 26th

10:50 am  Susan Glancy- singer, flutist and vocal coach. She has been trained at the Boston conservatory.

11:45 am Susan Bailey- writer, blogger, speaker, singer and songwriter. www.susanbailey.net

12:30pm Terry Donilon- currently sings in a choral group in Rhode Island. He brings his powerful and beautiful voice to the Telethon stage once again.

1:10pm Diana Doyle- a cantor at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

3pm Fr. Hickey and Fr. Rouse- Host and co-host of the very popular series Going my Way with Fr. Chris Hickey.

4:40pm Heather Waxman- will be singing with a children’s choir as well as performing some popular selections.

5:50pm Anne Marie David- one of the talented organists from the daily Mass. www.annemariedavid.com

About CatholicTV:
CatholicTV provides family-friendly, religious, news, and educational programming 24 hours daily. Founded over 50 years ago, CatholicTV is available in selected areas on cable in the United States and Canada, via Sky Angel and online via a live stream anytime, everywhere at the station’s web site www.CatholicTV.com. Father Robert Reed, a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston, is the Director of CatholicTV. Click here to paste this into your browser to find out how to watch CatholicTV where you live: http://www.CatholicTV.org/schedule/where-to-watch.aspx

Mary has so many titles, but in this week’s Mary Moment, Sarah Reinhard shares a poem on a cozy everyday sort of title, Our Lady of the Broom.  Visit Ginny Moyer’s Mary and Me Blog and check out her book Mary and Me: Catholic Women Reflect on the Mother of God.

Have you ever wondered about author G.K. Chesterton? Who is he? Why should I care? Find out on Chesterton Moments with Nancy Brown of Chesterton.org and the American Chesterton Society.

How would you feel if you found your priest inebriated and passed out? Today, Tom shares a Deacon Moment story in which this very thing happened. Strange? Listen as we continue to celebrate the Year of the Priest.

Remember to comment here on the blog for your chance to win an awesome Sarah Bauer tshirt! Simply leave a comment by August 31, 2009 and you will be entered to win.  One winner will be randomly selected.

Share your feedback at 206-339-9272, comment here on the blog or email lisa@catholicmom.com.

Links for this Episode:

• Alicia Hernon- Beloved
• Martin Doman, Regina Doman
• Catholicism Project:  Donate, Trailer
• “How Can I Keep from Singing” Podcast by Susan Bailey
• LiveWTL Podcast by Avery
• Among Women Podcast by Pat Gohn
• Catholic Media Liaison Kerry Madden – PiusMedia.com
• Current CatholicMom.com Contests – Taste of Heaven Book, Making Music Praying Twice Homeschool Edition
• SQPN Connect
• CatholicMom.com Book Club
• The Catholic Company
• Lisa’s Facebook Profile, SQPN Connect Page, Plurk, Twitter
• Catholic Mom Logo Store

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Be sure to enter this week’s “Making Music Praying Twice” contest, for your chance to win the Homeschool Edition of Making Music Praying Twice.

Today’s Deacon Moment contains tribute and appreciation for the work and evangelization by Father Robert Barron. Deacon Tom’s Deacon Moment is about the Baptism of Our Lord and is titled, “The God of Mud and Muck.”

In this week’s Mary Moment, Sarah Reinhard not only includes a great Sarah Bauer song, “Mary’s Got My Back,” and also announces your chance to win a Mary’s Got My Back t-shirt.

Share your feedback at 206-339-9272, comment here on the blog or email lisa@catholicmom.com.

Links for this Episode:

• Making Music Praying Twice.
• Catholicism Project:  Donate, Trailer
• Current CatholicMom.com Contests
• SQPN Connect
• CatholicMom.com Book Club
• The Catholic Company
• Lisa’s Facebook Profile, SQPN Connect Page, Plurk, Twitter
• Catholic Mom Logo Store

Subscribe to the feed | Subscribe with iTunes

To enter, you must leave a comment on this post with a valid email address (which won’t be published or shared) before Midnight PST on September 3, 2009.  I’ll draw a random winner and announce the winner when the contest has ended.

Update: Our lucky winner is Suzanne (#83). Your prize will be sent soon.  Take a look at our other CatholicMom.com contests for more great chances to win!

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