Song of Peace
- Composer: Alison Kennedy
- Lyrics: John Daley IC
- Date: 1992
- Collection Ref. (Opus No.) C1-01
- Scriptural References: John 14:1, 14:27, 15:12, 20:19
- Dedication: Our first Watermead Singers
This is an easy repetitive hymn to celebrate the sharing of peace, particularly suited to the "Sign of Peace" during the celebration of the Catholic mass, although it can be used at any time or occasion where 'peace' is the theme. The idea of the “Song of Peace” is that the vocal and instrumental harmonies and volume grow as the peace is shared and the various vocal and instrumental arrangements reflect this.
Song of Peace - the People Story
A Partnership in Hymns and Peace
The hymn was the first in the hymn-writing partnership of Alison Kennedy and Father John Daley and over the years it has become the anthem of the Watermead Apostolate, its wording summing up our mission statement. When Fr John went to preach a mission in Northern Ireland in 1992 the song became part of a union of prayer between St Theresa’s, parish in Andersonstown, Belfast, and our birth parish of St Theresa’s, Birstall, here in the UK ~ they sang our Song of Peace and we said their Prayer for Peace.
An Archive Recordings
The first recording of this hymn was for the original "Our Songs Give Praise" in 1994 and, although that cassette recording is no longer available, the track was digitally transferred to the archive gift recording, "Our Songs Gave Praise". There is a lot of background noise on the recording, but it serves well as an archive memory of the song's first singing. See our Music Shop to obtain CD
Hail Mary
- Composer: Alison Kennedy
- Lyrics: Traditional Catholic Prayer
- Date: 1992
- Collection Ref. (Opus No.) C1-02
- Scriptural References: Luke 1:28 & 1:42, John 1:14
- Dedication: Tommy & Catherine
A hymn based on the prayer of the Catholic Church, suitable for the end of the Prayers of Intercession at mass and as part of Marian Devotions, e.g. The Rosary, The Angelus.
Hail Mary - the Prayer
FAMILY MEMORY
The affection with the prayer is Alison's memory of regular three-mile walks with her father, Tom, to tend the grave of his parents, Tommy and Catherine, in the city's large cemetery. Every visit ended with them saying the 'Hail Mary' prayer together, before the long walk home carrying the gardening tools.
BACKGROUND TO THE PRAYER
The Hail Mary, also commonly called the 'Ave Maria' (Latin) or 'Angelic Salutation', is a traditional Catholic prayer asking the intercession of the mother of Jesus. The prayer forms the basis of two Catholic devotions, the 'Rosary' and the 'Angelus', and is based on the greeting of the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary in the Gospel,"Hail, the Lord is with thee" (Luke 1:28) and "full of grace" from John's Gospel (1:14). In mid-13th-century Western Europe the prayer consisted only of these phrases, with the single addition of the name "Mary" after the word "Hail". "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb" was added later and is taken from Elizabeth's greeting to Mary in Luke's Gospel (1:42).
The second part of the prayer, the petition "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death," first appeared in print in 1495 in Girolamo Savonarola's "Esposizione sopra l’Ave Maria" and officially became a prayer of the Church following the Council of Trent (1545–63).
Hail Mary - the Recordings
Our first recording of this prayer was for the original "Our Songs Give Praise" in 1994. It was recorded again in 1995 on the "Mary our Mother" cassette of hymns to Our Lady, Mary, the mother of Jesus. Neither of these recordings are available now but below is a sample taken from the second recording and sung by Matthew and the former St Theresa's choir.
Christ's Farewell
- Composer: Alison Kennedy
- Lyrics: John Daley IC
- Date: 1993
- Collection Ref. (Opus No.) C1-03
- Scriptural References: The Last Supper
- Dedication: Malcolm
A hymn suitable for many occasions - especially during Lent and Holy Week (Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday) and sung as a meditation at a Requiem Mass/ Funeral.
Christ's Farewell - the Background
This was the second hymn composed with Father John as lyricist. As a hymn suitable for funerals it was booked immediately by Elizabeth, one of our original choir members (Elizabeth also used to paste the holy picture cards onto our mass card designs - the mass card coding 'EH' reflects her part in our publishing apostolate). The first time the music was played was as a recessional piece at the Requiem Mass of Dr. Rosenberg. It was sung first at the leaving mass for Brother Bernard, a much-loved member of St Theresa’s parish community, and later at our founder Tom Concannon's funeral in 1993 ~ and, eventually, for Elizabeth in 2003.
Christ's Farewell
The first recording of this hymn was for the original "Our Songs Give Praise" in 1994 and, although that cassette recording is no longer available, the track was digitally transferred to the archive gift recording, "Our Songs Gave Praise". The hymn is dedicated to Malcolm and he is the one who introduces the singing on the sample below.
The Our Father
- Composer: Alison Kennedy
- Lyrics: Traditional Prayer
- Date: 1993
- Collection Ref. (Opus No.) C1-04
- Scriptural References: Matthew 6:6-13, Luke 11:2-4
- Dedication: Christian Friends
A musical setting of the 'Our Father' ('The Lord's Prayer') that can be used instead of the spoken prayer during the mass or at any service or occasion where Christians are gathered together. If used within the prayer of the mass there are chords given in the sheet music that can be played in the background of the priest's spoken link prayer leading to the concluding sung phrase.
The Our Father - The Lord's Prayer
This is one of Watermead's early prayer settings and one shared early in our music apostolate.
THE PRAYER
The Lord's Prayer, also called the Our Father (Latin, Pater Noster), is a Christian prayer which Jesus taught as the way to pray. There are two versions of this prayer recorded in the Gospel: a longer form within the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew, and a shorter form in the Gospel of Luke when "one of Jesus' disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray". The first three of the seven petitions in Matthew address God; the other four are related to human needs and concerns. The Matthew account alone includes the "Your will be done" and the "Rescue us from the evil one" (or "Deliver us from evil") petitions.
The Our Father - Recordings
The first recording of this hymn was for the original "Our Songs Give Praise" in 1994. It was one of the hymns recorded at St Theresa's by people from the Churches of Birstall for a Radio Leicester Easter Songs of Praise programme in 1999 and in 2004 it was recorded by Matthew and Rebecca for the "I Call You Friends" CD (sample below).
O Child (Song of Life)
- Composer: Alison Kennedy
- Lyrics: John Daley IC
- Date: 1994
- Collection Ref. (Opus No.) C1-05
- Scriptural References: Mary's Magnificat
- Dedication: Ruth
The song is one that looks at the human journey through the seasons of life - springtime, summertime, autumn and winter. It is suitable for singing at a baptism or First Holy Communion / Confirmation and during any seasons of the year, especially Christmas.
O Child (Song of Life)
"O Child" is dedicated to Ruth and all children. Ruth was the fifth child born to Ann and Gerald and was brought to church for the first time on the day Alison composed the music for this hymn, thus becoming the inspiration for the lyrics. The first word Fr John heard in the music was "summertime" and the hymn took shape as a song looking forward to the seasons of life seen through the seasons of the year. The first time the hymn was heard was when Ruth's Godmother, Lorraine, sang it to her on her baptism day and has since been sung by various soloists and congregations. To read the story and see a photo of baby Ruth with her grandmother click on the button below.
The hymn came to the attention of Nuala Scarisbrick of LIFE, a national organisation she had founded in 1979 along with her husband, Jack, to provide a compassionate alternative to those faced with a crisis pregnancy. She asked to use the hymn at their 25 year anniversary conference mass on 15th October,1995 and our choir was also invited to lead the music at the mass.
O Child (Song of Life) - Recordings
The first recording of this hymn by Lorraine on the cassette "Life - a Journey Shared" in 1995. It was also recorded by Dermot (sung sample below) on the charity CD ¡Vivan Los Niños! we produced for Let the Children Live in 1998. Then, in 2004, it was recorded again by Matthew and Rebecca for the "I Call You Friends" CD.
The instrumental version was also recorded in 2004 for our "People of God" CD. Click here to read about that recording and watch the video presentation with Fr John introducing the hymn as a "Music as Prayer" meditation, a presentation used at our retreats.
Pax Christi
- Composer: Alison Kennedy
- Lyrics: John Daley IC
- Date: 1993
- Collection Ref. (Opus No.) C1-06
- Scriptural References: John 14:27 & Isaiah/Last Supper
- Dedication: Barbara
This hymn began life as a hymn for peace, along the lines of the "Song of Peace". It can be used for various parts of the mass calling people to come to the Eucharist, offering reassurance of Jesus in the Gospel (John 14:27) to calm troubled hearts.
Pax Christi
The hymn saw its first use in 1993 at the Requiem Mass of our co-founder, Tom Concannon. Later that year, October, we were invited to lead the music at a Diocesan Event looking at the future of the Catholic Church in the diocese and Pax Christi was used as one of the hymns. In 1994 the hymn was introduced locally at a Station Mass and that was the beginning of its travelling and use further afield.
Pax Christi - Recordings
The first recording of this hymn was for the orignal "Our Songs Give Praise" in 1994. It was one of the hymns recorded at St Theresa's by people from the Churches of Birstall for a Radio Leicester Easter Songs of Praise programme in 1999 and in 2004 it was recorded by Matthew and Rebecca for the "I Call You Friends" CD (sample below).
