‘2097 Advent’ music tour to make six stops in Florida

PAT LANGFORD AND DENISE O'TOOLE KELLY | FLORIDA CATHOLIC

Published: 12.03.08

JENSEN BEACH | Everett Fritz had been trying to get Adore 2097 to come to the Diocese of Palm Beach for more than two years. Mission accomplished.

St. Martin de Porres Parish in Jensen Beach, where Fritz is youth minister, is one of six stops in Florida on the popular touring Catholic worship team’s nine-city Florida and Gulf Coast region 2097 Advent Worship tour. The team – which for this tour includes well-known musicians Matt Maher and the Band, Kelly Pease and Josh Blakesley as well as speaker Paul George – not only will appear in Jensen Beach Dec. 18 but also will hit venues in Jacksonville, Ormond Beach, Orlando, Indialantic and Valrico between Dec. 12 and Dec. 19.

“They travel around the country for an incredible night of adoration, teaching and praise and worship with the best youth speakers and evangelists and musicians in the country,” Fritz said. We’re very, very, very excited to get it.”

Adore came together in 2001 as Adore Ministries, co-founded by speaker George in Houma, La., targeting young adults and those of college age. The first Adore gatherings took place in private homes. Three years later, the group began hosting corporate gatherings and later began to take its tour on the road. The Advent tour represents its first trip to Florida. Adore 2097 is a reference to article 2097 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states in part “to adore God is to praise and exalt him and to humble oneself.”

Fritz described the tour as “very big on production.”

“They bring in staging, lighting, audio and visual,” he said. “Matt Maher is probably the biggest name in Catholic contemporary music today. They are adamant it’s not a concert.”

Here’s a bit about the talent on the team.

MATT MAHER

Maher was born and raised in Newfoundland, Canada, and studied jazz piano at Arizona State University. His big-label debut album, “Empty & Beautiful,” was released on Essential Records on April 4 of this year.

“The realization of our own emptiness without God is both a moment of sadness, and a window to joy, which opens to something so much bigger and more beautiful than ourselves. To lay down one’s life for the Gospel in service of God and neighbor, is a reflection of the beauty of God. That is our charge as Christians, and that is where these songs came from,” Maher said about the record, primarily written by him.

KELLY PEASE

Pease is a Louisiana native and has been “praying” through music since age 14. At first she thought the music God was giving her was simply to help her heal from the losses she experienced early in life, including the divorce of her parents and her father’s untimely death. But, over time, she says, God revealed to her that the music he was pouring through her was for others as well. Now, at age 22, Kelly shares her music and testimony in churches and conferences across the country.

JOSH BLAKESLEY

Blakesley’s Christian music journey began in 1992 while he was involved with a high school peer ministry team. In 1993, he was a praise and worship leader for the papal visit at World Youth Day in Denver. He has led music for over 10 years and in 2003, released his first solo album, “Immersed,” which includes original songs written mostly from his experiences in youth and music ministry. Blakesley serves as young adult coordinator and assistant music director at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church in Alexandria, La., and travels many weekends for music ministry.

PAUL GEORGE

George has been in the trenches of ministry for the past 12 years. He has run parish youth ministry programs in both Louisiana and Arizona. As co-founder of Adore Ministries, George travels around the country speaking at rallies, retreats, conferences, schools and many other venues.

 

 

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