Singing 29’ers witness to Jesus through musical prayer



Sing once, pray twice - In the photos above, the Singing 29’ers perform songs of meditation prior to the start of Mass on Sunday. The sheet music illustrated on this page was included in the group’s entry in the Manresa registry, as they have done the past few years.


SINGERS, MUSICIANS FILL CHAPEL WITH THE “SOUNDS OF MANRESA”


Our Manresa Group 29 choir in July 2004 had 13 members including two guitarists and one organist. Seven were from Destrehan and six were from along the bayou.

With only 45 minutes of rehearsals to sing for three Masses, we struggled to refresh songs we had sung in past years. The tenor and bass harmonies beautifully filled the small chapel.

At Friday’s liturgy we sang the following prayer as the offertory gifts were brought to the altar to be changed into our Lord’s Body & Blood.

This is Jesus, Emmanuel;
God is with us in this sacrament.
Come receive Him, adore Him.
This is Jesus our Lord.

At communion, over 100 men took the invitation to receive Jesus. The choir reminded them in song why we were here –

Before the sun burned bright and rivers flowed
I called you each by name to share my home.
No longer be afraid, I am your God.
My love will never end, Alleluia

On Saturday prior to start of Mass we chose a prayer written by St. Ignatius from the Spiritual Exercises as a meditation song –

Take Lord, receive all my liberty,
My memory, understanding, my entire will.
Give me only Your love and Your grace;
That’s enough for me.
Your love and Your grace
Are enough for me.

At communion we affirmed our belief with these words in song –

Yahweh, I know you are near,
Standing always at my side.
You guard me from the foe,
And you lead me in ways everlasting.

Our Prayer is our Song - Musicians and vocalists Gerald Blanchard (bass), SCB’s Kevin Ericksen (guitar), and Eddie Dugas (organ) help make the Group 29 choir what it is, and add an extra dimension to the beautiful liturgical music.

The last day of retreat, Sunday, is special. Songs of meditation begin at 11:45 a.m. prior to the 12:00 noon Mass. Our musical prayers included “As I Kneel”, “Father of Peace”, “Be Not Afraid”, “Abba Father” and “Panis Angelicus.”

At communion we sang our commitment to the Lord for this retreat –

Here I am Lord. Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

The communion meditation song for the twelfth straight year is dedicated to the staff at Manresa and to those retreatants here for the first time. We want them to go away realizing what we truly believe –

This is holy ground.
We’re standing on holy ground.
For the Lord is here
and where He is, is holy.
We are standing on holy ground
and I know that there are angels all around.
Let us praise Jesus now.
We are standing in His presence on holy ground.

We cannot thank the musicians enough for adding a powerful witness to Jesus through musical prayer. It is our hope that our legacy in Group No. 29 would be remembered as the “Singing 29’ers” who year after year filled the small chapel with “The Sounds of Manresa.”

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