When I reflect on the Scriptures and various events and encounters portrayed, I am intrigued by stories and situations such as The Prodigal Son returning home, Peter displaying human weakness and infidelity, Mary washing the feet of Jesus, Dismas the thief struggling to acknowledge his own sinful life, and take a chance on Jesus.

The title of this CD, “Songs to Renew Spirit and Heart” reflects my belief that everything is related to the heart. Jesus only looks into our hearts. We are confronted not so much by our actions, rather the motives which remain hidden in our hearts.

To order your copy of “Songs to Renew Spirit and Heart”, please click on the link above.

Eugene O’Reilly, C.Ss.R.

The Silver Collection is a 25th Anniversary Celebration, Digitally Re-mastered, 2 CD compilation of all four of the below recordings along with three bonus tracks including “Days to Come”, written and sung by Eugene O’Reilly for the 2001 Redemptorist Provincial Assembly. Copies of this collection are available for purchase from our Provincial Administration Offices for the price of $15Can. This price includes shipping and handling fees within Canada and the US. To order this CD or for information about our other musical offerings see the email for “Redemptorist Music” please click on the link above.

Over the years, three of the original Redemptorists singers were still singing. At this point we included more Redemptorists and lay friends to join the effort. Now came a quieter period in our history. When Evening Comes marked a turning point. We still have the energy and enthusiasm (and we are recording digitally), yet the music shows a maturity. A maturity in song-crafting ability: lyrics, which provoke and inspire, lyrics influenced by life’s experiences. The “Song of Peter” is a reflective piece, a song that is sung today on the Sea of Galilee each time teachers and others journey to the Holy Land.

From 1978-1985 the Redemptorist singers were involved in various ministries throughout the country. The preaching of Parish missions became an important part of the Redemptorists’ focus. During these missions there was a “Service of Light” — lit candles — and renewal of Baptismal promises. A very moving celebration and yet the music available at that time didn’t capture the event completely. On a ferry from Newfoundland to N. Sydney — heading for another mission — a little tune popped into the head of Eugene O’Reilly. What happened since has been amazing. The song “Children Of The Light” has become an anthem for all Catholic schools in the country and all over the world. This song has been recorded many times by others, and is in parishes and schools as part of religious education programs. NO ONE could have predicted the impact this song has had in Catholic circles since 1985 to this day.

The same four Redemptorists gather again, along with three female singers (Mary Jo and Betty Anne Heffernan and Karen Kingdom) to produce a rousing, and thankfully, a technically improved and more polished recording (after all having done ONE album we were now experienced). On this recording we experimented with a wide variety of musical styles from Rock to Reggae. Nobody could have accused us of having the same sound over and over again. From this recording the Caribbean flavoured “I Am Your God” was selected to be part of the religious education programs in Canada.

Four Redemptorists with a desire to sing The Word (Darrell McGinn, Paul Curtin, Yaroslaw Dybka, Eugene O’Reilly). Our first experience in a recording studio. —everything new—lots of energy and enthusiasm. Long before the popularity of Celtic music from the East coast was rediscovered, Damascus Road was recorded with the help of a Newfoundland Bar Band. Yes we may have been technically challenged but our sincerity was true. The most recognized song “Prodigal Son” or “Father I have Sinned”, made it into the Canadian Hymnal II and part of religious education programs throughout Canada. Now, over 35 years later it is still being sung in penitential services, sung and expressed in so many creative ways that we never even considered…way back then.