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Catholic Singer's Song
Echoes Sentiment Of Priesthood Sunday
TREASURE
ISLAND, FLORIDA, (CatholicMusicNetwork.com) - The board of the National Federation of Priests' Councils
declared Sunday, October 26, 2003, "Priesthood Sunday." They
called on churches all over America "to celebrate the gifts of
Priesthood in service to the Catholic community." It was
a special
day and a wake-up call for parishioners to honor Christ as
Priest and the men who are called to be his priests on earth.
You may wonder, why October 26? The readings for that
Sunday, week 30 of Ordinary time, called our attention to the Priesthood.
The readings include, "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedeck," and the story of Christ, as Master, healing the
blind man.
This gospel is very special to one Catholic musician.
Annie Karto, winner of a Catholic unity award for her CD
Overshadow
Me, has written and recorded an EP after being
touched by the
 words
of Christ. The song titled
You
Are A Priest Forever, has gotten much airplay
and is a regular song on EWTN Radio’s Catholic Jukebox.
Annie's style of music is meditative but with a contemporary flair.
She explained her excitement about “Priesthood Sunday”
to CatholicMusicNetwork.com in this exclusive interview done
in September 2003:
CMN: Annie, after suffering through the priest-abuse scandal last year in the
Catholic Church, why do you think we should have a “Priesthood
Sunday”?
A.K. I feel
this declaration of “Priesthood Sunday” by the National
Federation of Priests, Oct. 26, was a movement of the Holy
Spirit. As Father Benedict Groeschel C.F.R. has pointed out,
less than 1% of our Catholic priests have been involved in any
scandal, yet our good faithful priests have had to “shoulder
the blame” for the few. As I travel to sing and witness at
different conferences and parishes across the country, I meet
many priests who need encouragement and prayer, and many lay
people searching for a way to help encourage their priests.
In my own
life, I have been very blessed to know many holy priests who
have impacted my life very powerfully. One priest in
particular stands out and holds a special place in my heart.
He's my spiritual director, Fr. August P. Bosio S.D.B., who is
featured on the back cover of the CD,
You
Are A Priest Forever.
Fr. Bosio, through his counseling, brought me back
into the full embrace of the Catholic Church by blessing my
marriage. He brought me to a greater love of the Sacraments
that many of my songs are based upon. He went home to the Lord
in the Jubilee year of 2000, but I am still asking for his
direction and prayer from above.
CMN: Speaking about the
song, “You are a Priest Forever”, it is very timely with this
event. How did you come to write this song?
A.K.:
The
words and music of the song came to me simultaneously after
reading a very inspirational book on the priesthood. After
finishing the book, I knelt down in prayer, sensing the
nearness of Our Lord and Blessed Mother. I thanked our Lord
for the great gift of the priesthood. Since the song’s release
in 2000, I have witnessed tears of joy and gratefulness from
many priests across the country. Recently, I received e-mail
from a newly ordained priest who was listening to the song for
the first time in his car. He said he was so moved by the fact
that as a priest he is able to hold Jesus in his own hands at
daily Mass, he was overcome by emotion and had to pull his car
over to the side of the road to weep. I have a whole scrapbook
full of letters from bishops and priests across the country.
CMN: That is very moving to
hear. You also had good news last year with the win of a
Catholic Unity award for your CD
Overshadow
Me. How did that make you feel?
A.K.: I
was very grateful to God. I really felt the Holy Spirit was
“Overshadowing” this project from the start. I want each of my
songs to be a prayer rising from the deepest places in my soul
where Christ abides. The Holy Spirit then carries that love of
Christ out to touch, heal and encourage the souls of others.
Music is a gift from God to be shared with others.
CMN: Is there any song off
the CD that would be your favorite?
A.K.: People love the
title song--“Overshadow Me.” I usually invite people to allow
the Holy Spirit to make them “child like” by doing hand
motions to the chorus. It is quite moving to see them
participate and feel the Holy Spirit in action as they raise
their hands in love, inviting God’s Spirit into their hearts.
CMN: Many other songs off
of “Overshadow Me” seem to be Marian in nature. Do you have a
devotion to the Blessed Mother?
A.K.:
I
was consecrated at birth to the Blessed Mother, being born in
a Marian Year. My mother taught me well concerning the virtues
of Mary, and I believe that this beauty of Our Lady carries
over into my music. The Blessed Mother is the heart and
sweetness in my life. I have consecrated my music ministry to
Her. The song, “I Am Yours” which won an international award
at a Marian concert in Guatamala in November of 2002, reflects
my devotion to Mary. She is the perfect role model for women
today. I always take the opportunities given to me to speak to
women about how we can imitate Her in bringing Jesus to our
families and to the world. Our Holy Father tells us woman’s
greatest vocation is motherhood… whether physical or
spiritual. It is exciting to be a Catholic woman in the Church
today.
CMN: I have missed you a few
times while you were out at Eucharistic Adoration. How
essential is this to you?
A.K.:
Eucharistic Adoration is my life-line. To be able to receive
the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of the King of Kings is
such an awesome gift! To be able to sit in His presence, and
tell Him of my love, my concerns for my family, my desires,
and intercede for so many souls, what could bring more peace
on this earth? The Eucharist is the source and summit of our
Catholic Faith and the power behind all effective ministries
in the Church. I will be speaking/singing at an upcoming Eucharistic Marian
conference in Idaho Falls, Wyoming. Fr. John Corapi S.O.L.T.
and Fr. Frank Pavone will be featured speakers. These two
priests are among my favorites because they preach the Truth
of the Gospel with such conviction and without compromise. We
lay people need this type of boldness in this day.
CMN: What can we expect from
Annie Karto is the future? Any new endeavors in the works?
A.K.:
I am
gathering music at this time for a new CD. This new project
will be all songs for Eucharistic Adoration. There will be a
few new original songs, but the CD will feature mostly older
well-loved hymns such as “O Lord I Am Not Worthy” set to
acoustic guitar and strings. My prayer is that this will be a
CD that can be reflective enough to be played during
Eucharistic Adoration.
CMN: Any final thoughts on
the priesthood?
A.K.: In
regards to
"Priesthood Sunday":
All you dear priests, thank you for your vocations. May you be
strengthened by Our Lord and Lady to carry out your vocations,
and may you draw the young to this great gift of the
priesthood by striving to become the "other Christs."
If you would like her to speak or sing at your event contact:
Annie Karto 12485 2nd
Street East, Treasure Island, FL 33706. Phone 727-363-3504
Annie has ask
that we make the sheet music for "You Are A Priest Forever"
available to parishes that want to use it.
Read the Sheet
Music in Adobe PDF.
Download the
Sheet Music - zip (505k)
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