I am honored to announce that the song “Pray,” from my debut album Soul Diving, has been selected by the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity to be featured on their website in a month long, streaming peace concert throughout the month of October to celebrate the Feast of St. Francis, which occurs on October 4. “Pray” will be featured along with songs from Arwen Lewis, Jean Ritchie and Franciscan Friar Tansi Ibisi. Each of the four songs will be streaming at the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity website throughout October. Additionally, the Atticus Records online store will offer the digital single of “Pray” as a free download for the month of October.
The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity are a Catholic religious order, headquartered in the U.S. They serve in education, health care and pastoral ministry throughout the United States, from the Gila River Reservation in Bapchule, AZ, to Greenwood, MS, from a conservatory in Manitowoc to rural Ohio, Michigan and Mississippi, to Campus Ministry outreaches through the Central U.S.
Their website is part of a proactive vocation communication strategy, designed around findings discerned during a series of focus groups with college age women over the last eight years. Most visitors come to the “Franciscanized World” website for the featured songs regularly posted there for spiritual meditation. Past featured artists have included some of my personal favorite artists of all time, Bruce Cockburn, Rickie Lee Jones, Roger McGuinn, Peter Himmelman, Chris Hillman, Daniel Lanois, Jennifer Warnes, Steve Forbert, Innocence Mission, David Wilcox, Ashley Cleveland, Sufjan Stevens, Over the Rhine, Eric Andersen, Paul Brady and Paul Thorn.
Just as Saints Francis and Clare sought God’s goodness in every act of creation, the Franciscan Sisters’ website features songs to accommodate thoughtful insights and comments on a range of artistic expressions of faith. Each year with the month long streaming peace concert, they feature multiple songs. Besides “Pray,” this year’s streaming peace concert features Fr. Tansi Ibisi’s “Nani Chineke,” a mishmash of spiritual and traditional Nigerian songs; Arwen Lewis‘ version of “It’s A Beautiful Day Today,” written by former Moby Grape member, Bob Mosley; and a version of Jean Richter’s “The Peace Round” done by various artists as part of the album Dear Jean, a Compass Records tribute to the Kentucky-born “Mother of Folk”.
I am honored to be included among this eclectic group of artists, each of whom is using their music to promote spiritual themes that serve to cultivate peace on the planet. I invite you to visit the Franciscan Sisters’ website to hear the Streaming Peace Concert.
Then visit the Atticus-Records online store throughout October to download a free MP3 version of “Pray”. While you are there check out the other great music available, including Stephen Doster‘s great new album, New Black Suit, or purchase any of the specially selected singles and albums pledged to assist in Hurricane Harvey Relief efforts.
Thank you for your continued support.