Florida Catholic | Women's Circle

Catholic singer-songwriter entertains and educates

Matt Maher plans a return visit to the area for an afternoon workshop for music ministers and an evening concert at St. Martin de Porres Parish.

Published: 01.25.08

Concertgoers are moved by Matt Maher’s music during his appearance at St. Peter Parish in Jupiter Jan. 13. Maher’s next scheduled concert in the area is at St. Martin de Porres Parish in Jensen Beach on Feb. 23.
JASON COLLINS | FC

Matt Maher's Music

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Matt Maher will appear Saturday, Feb. 23, at St. Martin de Porres Parish, 2555 N.E. Savanna Road, Jensen Beach. Call 777-334-4214 for information.

• 7 p.m., prayer, worship and storytelling. Hosted by the parish Life Teen ministry. Tickets: $10 in advance for ages 13 and up or $15 at the door. Children: $5 in advance or $10 at the door.

• 1-3:30 p.m., music and liturgy workshop for those who prepare Masses especially designed for young parishioners.

Tickets: $40, which includes workshop, dinner and concert.

JUPITER | Judging from his recordings and reviews, Catholic singer-songwriter Matt Maher’s comfort zone covers everything from liturgical standards to Christian contemporary riffs that would sound in place on a modern rock radio station.

That could be one of the reasons such a large crowd turned out to see and hear him Jan. 13 at St. Peter Parish in Jupiter, and his upcoming performance and workshop at St. Martin de Porres are generating interest from teenagers and liturgists alike.

“The youths here are really ecstatic about him coming,” said Everett Fritz, St. Martin de Porres youth minister who shares the excitement.

“They heard him at a Steubenville youth concert in Atlanta. He is awesome. In my opinion, I think he is the greatest worship minister in the country today.”

Maher’s 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, performance at the parish is billed as an evening of “prayer, worship and storytelling.” His music and liturgy workshop earlier in the day will focus on Masses designed for young parishioners.

A music minister at St. Timothy Parish in Mesa, Ariz. — birthplace of the nationally acclaimed Life Teen youth ministry program — Maher tied for best rock album of the year in the 2006 Unity Awards, given by the United Catholic Music and Video Association, for his third album, “Overflow.”

In 2002, the same year he released his first CD, “The End and the Beginning,” Maher appeared at World Youth Day in Toronto where his “Litany of the Saints” was sung at the official papal evening prayer with 700,000 young pilgrims in attendance. He released his second album, “Welcome to Life,” in 2003 and was named best new artist that year in the Unity Awards.

His three albums to date were released on Spirit and Song records. He signed a contract late last year with the larger Essential Records and his debut album with that label is due out April 8.

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Catholic singer-songwriter entertains and educates

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