Last night I went to an absolutely awesome concert at Benedictine College. Catholic singer Matt Maher came to play for the first annual “Guitarfest” at Benedictine College in Atchison. As a special touch, they decided to dedicate this first event to Jared and Matty. Jared was a 2004 graduate of BC and Matty was a great friend of the college who played there with his band many times. I remember well the day that I asked Matty for some good “modern” Catholic music and he gave me “The End and the Beginning” by Matt Maher. I love that CD and listen to it a lot and so I jumped at the chance to get to see Matt Maher live in concert. I don’t know if Jared was a fan or not, but Matty obviously loved his music so it was a very fitting selection.

The event began with open mic all afternoon and then Mass at 5:00. After Mass we had a cookout and then settled in for a nice concert at 7:00. It just so happened that Jody Madden had his iPod with him that had the recording of Matty’s band, The Discerning Trio, live in concert at Benedictine College in 1999. So, all during dinner and in between sets, The Discerning Trio was being blasted over the main speakers and all over Atchison. People still remembered the concert from 99 that took place in the building right next to the field where we were gathered. A whole new group of college kids were introduced to Super Mom and everyone was dancing. It was a really neat thing to see.

I must say that Matt Maher is just a wonderful person to hear in concert. I was always very impressed with the obvious strong Catholic faith that came through in his music, but it is even more obvious in person. He seems so friendly and was very down to earth for such a famous singer. When he came to singing his famous song “Set me as a seal on your heart” he remarked that he didn’t have a “girl singer” with him to do that part. A girl from the audience spontaneously volunteered and he just let her come up on stage and sing with him. (She did a very nice job by the way.) Later, another girl decided that she would like to take over for the bass player and did so quite nicely as well. No one will forget the bongo-playing nun (you just had to be there). It was a very free spirited type night that was part concert, part prayer, and just a whole lot of fun.

Finally, a nice bonus I hadn’t expected was that Sarah Swafford, also a BC grad and current temporary resident of Mundelein where I go to seminary was there to kind of MC the thing. She and her husband Andy just gave birth to there first son right after I left for internship. They gave him the middle name Jared in honor of you know who and I got to see him for the first time last night. This week I go back to Mundelein for a mid-term workshop and it will be good to see all my seminary brothers again. Until next time…check out Matt’s CD’s.