By Lois Rogers | Correspondent

For some time, the 106 young vocalists and musicians who share their gifts with the members Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Moorestown, have been hearing the same refrain after Mass: “We love hearing you guys. You should make a CD.”

“Really nice people have been coming up to us for years” with the request, said Mary Lawlor, one of the singers on the CD who began singing with the Youth Music Ministry program in sixth grade.

This Christmas season, the parish’s four music ensembles – the junior and youth choirs, the high school Praise Band and String Ensemble – were able to fulfill that request. The resulting CD, “Celebrating Christmas with The Youth Ministry of Our Lady’s Parish,” showcases the abilities of the choristers and instrumentalists from third grade through high school.

Under the direction of Paula Quann, youth music minister, and with appearances by special guests including Father Damian McElroy, pastor, the youngsters offer a sophisticated and heartfelt program that ranges from favorite carols such as “What Child is This,” “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and “Away in a Manger” to a strikingly modern take that melds Leonard Cohen’s classic “Hallelujah” with Christmas sentiment.

Lawlor, a soprano who is currently in community college but cantors and helps with the parish’s music groups, said she’s happy the groups had the opportunity to make the CD – which sells for $15 and goes up in $10 increments depending on the number of discs purchased.

That the proceeds will benefit a good cause that is yet to be determined pleases Lawlor to no end, as does the fact that “people can finally get their wish and listen to us in the house and car and get the same feeling they get in church.”

That was the aim of Quann and a group of volunteers and professionals who strove to produce a CD that would spotlight the Youth Music Ministry as one that contributes greatly to parish life. Seeing and hearing the youngsters at Mass regularly and experiencing their enthusiasm in sharing songs of faith have “really enhanced the life of the parish for me as their teacher,” Quann said.

“The (youth) ministry has really become a vehicle to bring them to Christ,” said Quann, who added that rehearsals begin and end with prayer, and that discussions about their faith journeys the music inspires are encouraged as time allows.

Their enthusiasm is a source of inspiration not only for Quann, but for parishioners, too. “So many parishioners have told me how told me how blessed they feel to hear them.”

Aside from word of mouth, Quann said she has received letters about the youngsters, including one from a person suffering the loss of a young person from drugs who called the CD a blessing. Another letter came from someone inspired to return to Church by watching the young members of the String Ensemble during the Advent Carol Service, she said.

Among the letters she recently received are those from former members of the youth music ministry, now in college, who say they plan to continue in music to use their gifts for God.

Quann, who majored in music at the University of Vermont and continued her studies in choral music at Westminster Choir College, Princeton, said she is grateful for the contributions of so many to the project. These included $1,000 in seed money from a parishioner and support from Father McElroy, Father James Grogan, parish parochial vicar, parish staff and those who offered encouragement and skill in producing the CD, which she described as “an amazing experience.”

The CD was recorded Nov. 30 in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church by AMP Recording and Duplicating Services.

For Caroline Voyack, a senior in Moorestown High School, the experience was a definite “win-win.”

“Working with Mrs. Quann is a joy, and I was so excited” to be part of the CD, said Voyack, the Youth Music Ministry’s intern who will enter Westminster Choir College in the fall.

“It was good to have a physical copy of what we do and nice to be able to share it with people. It’s a wonderful way to show faith.”