November 2020
WELCOME
Welcome to the very first edition of The Vigil Project Newsletter!
As our ministry has grown with new team members, music projects, and program initiatives, we’ve outgrown our capacity to keep you fully in the loop with email updates (an exciting problem to have!).
We are eager to finally launch this monthly newsletter that will be our main form of communication with our subscribers moving forward. In addition to just keeping you informed about the work and happenings of The Vigil Project, we also have a few other goals in mind.
First - we want to do more than simply provide you with updates: we want to provide you with content that inspires growth in your relationship with God. Our hope is that when you read this newsletter, you walk away with something to take with you on your journey of faith.
Second - we want to share with you in a more personal way who we are…”we” being the actual humans that are part of The Vigil Project...specifically Andrea, Corrie, John, Shawn, Michaela, Lizzy, Greg, Fr. Colm and our extended family of artists. We hope to welcome you a little deeper into our own thoughts, our hearts, our families, and even our caffeine preferences! So while we're at it, this is something you should know about John... the way to his heart is a good cup of coffee!
Third - we want to get to know YOU a little better too! Nothing brings us to life quite like making friends with those we serve, and given the choice between having “fans” or “friends”, we’ll choose friends every single time! We’ve come up with some fun ways to do just that in each issue.
In short, read on if…
- You’re interested in the latest news and music from TVP.
- You need a spark for your spiritual journey.
- You want to know the people behind TVP.
- You like new playlists, fun surveys, and more!
Thank you for journeying with us in a deeper way through the seasons of our faith!
— FEATURED PROJECT —
A JESÚS POR MARÍA (TO JESUS THROUGH MARY)
Let’s start things off big with an exciting double announcement… we have a brand new full-length album *AND* it will be our first ever all-Spanish music project!
We’ve collaborated with producer Jonatan Narvaez and artists Athenas, Veronica Sanfilippo, and Nico Cabrera to bring you an incredible album titled “A Jesús por María”, which translates to “To Jesus through Mary”. Written as a contemplation of Our Lady, the album explores who Mary is as the Mother of God and the mother of all, and how her entire life points us to her Son, Jesus.
We are so proud of the team that has put their whole heart into this project, and we pray that it blesses the Church by bringing us closer to our Blessed Mother. Keep an eye (and ear!) out for “A Jesús por María” releasing on December 12th, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe!
— TVP HAPPENINGS —
Writing for a new album...
Last week we wrapped up a writing retreat for our next album! The Lord moved in mighty ways (including through Hurricane Zeta) and He inspired many new songs. What a blessing it was to be together as a team, to pray for the Church, and to work with one another in such a collaborative way. Please keep us in prayer as we continue to write and create these songs for release in this upcoming year!
Ignite Your Parish launches...
Advent begins at the end of this month and parishes all across the country and the world are participating in Ignite Your Parish! Let us pray that each heart that receives this Catholic media bundle is opened to the wonders of this season and that the gift of our Savior transforms each home into a place of peace and joy this season.
Advent Devotional Journey sign up...
Whether or not Ignite Your Parish will be at your parish, all of our subscribers are invited to sign up for a brand new Advent & Christmas Devotional Journey. Each week throughout these seasons, we’ll send you the Sunday Mass Scriptures, a reflection from a guest writer, and music to pray with. If you’re looking for a way to dive deeply into Advent and Christmas, join the journey here!
New booklet for Advent and Christmas...
In addition to our music offerings for Advent and Christmas, we also invite you to grab a copy of our brand new devotional companion booklet, titled Today in the City. Written by Aimee MacIver, this booklet strives to enter the Church’s long tradition of engaging our senses and our imagination for the sake of prayerful contemplation. Readers will find nine beautifully written creative reflections that draw from iconic scriptural moments upon which the Church focuses during these seasons. Rounded out with Scriptural references for prayer, music listening suggestions, and reflection questions for each chapter, this compact booklet is perfect for praying at home, in the chapel and everywhere in between.
The booklet will be available in our SHOP starting next week, so check back then!
Publishing partnership with WorshipNow...
Music leaders and musicians will be excited to know that we’ve partnered with our good friends at WorshipNow Publishing to offer our song “Oh Mother” for license. You’ll have everything you need to lead the song, including sheet music, lead sheets, chord charts, and a tutorial video by our very own John Finch. Head over to WorshipNOW and get “Oh Mother” plugged into your music rotation!
College Musician Formation - fall semester wrap up...
We’ve always said that there is a hidden part of our mission to make music for the Catholic journey, and that is supporting others in doing the same. In this regard, we’re in the homestretch of our first semester-long formation course being offered to students in partnership with Christ the King Campus Ministry at Louisiana State University. It has been an incredible experience for us to see these talented student-musicians grow in faith, musicality, and passion for serving the Church through song.
— MEET THE TEAM —
ANDREA’S KITCHEN
Hi everyone! Andrea here :)
We thought it might be fun to have a section in our newsletter where you (our people!) can get to know our team a little bit. And since this was my bright idea, it seems only fair that I get us started. So...something you should know about me is that I am a foodie. And I 100% blame my family, as I come from Italian, Irish, and Lebanese roots. You know how there’s those families who revolve every occasion they have with the food they eat? That’s us. Come on in.
So, in the spirit of good food and especially as we approach Thanksgiving, I'd love to get us started on the get-to-know-ya tracks by sharing a recipe that is near and dear to my family. It's been with us for generations. See below for my family’s focaccia bread recipe. Here's a photo of me and my dad from the last time we made it. It’s his mom’s mom’s mom’s (maybe more) recipe. If you make it for Thanksgiving (or any time), let me know! You will not be disappointed! Feel free to tag Vigil or me personally :) I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT. And for what it's worth, in my humble opinion the optimal cooking environment involves, family, some kind of carbohydrate, olives (from Italy, obviously), a glass of vino, Sinatra in the background, an apron and bonus points if you’re wearing slippers. Cheers!
— NEW MUSIC —
MONTHLY MUSIC PLAYLIST
THANKFULNESS // The Vigil Project
Each month we will create a new playlist for you to discover new music and journey through whatever season we are in! This month, we have collected songs just for you to encourage a spirit of gratitude in November as we thank the Lord for all His good gifts. Great is His faithfulness! Click here to listen now.
FEATURED ARTIST: SIMPLE OFFERING
John here! I really love these artists and recently had a chance to write with Simple Offering at a retreat, so I thought you should know about them! Two of the most authentic and kind souls, this recently married duo brings beautiful harmonies and style to their devotional music with a hope to equip and raise up a generation to transform the world. In their recent EP, “Prodigal” Mark and Lily of Simple Offering spend five songs breaking open the love of the Father for us to sit with in prayer. Each song is an invitation to welcome His love into our hearts and to allow ourselves to be welcomed back into His heart time and time again. I encourage you to take a listen!
— FOR FUN —
WHAT SAY YOU?
Answer the question and we’ll share the answers in our next newsletter! You’ll also be entered into our random drawing for a prize:)
— MORE ABOUT VIGIL —
ON THE ROAD
At present, this section might be more appropriately titled, “Off the Road”. As you might have guessed, we have not been able to tour since all of our events were canceled back in March. No question, it has been really hard. We miss you and your communities! We miss praying with you, gathering in community, and getting to know you! Yet, we know that God is good and He has great plans for all that is to come.
Perhaps you’ve noticed that in the absence of our ability to be on the road we have not pivoted to offer an abundance of virtual events; this is intentional and something we’ve put a great deal of discernment into. Yes, the internet has been a blessing during this time providing for us a substitute for natural community. But, we believe so much in the power and necessity of the Church to gather in prayer - in person - that we’ve felt called to watch and pray for the time ahead when we can gather together again.
In short, we want to feel the ache of this unnatural time so that we never forget the experience of God’s presence wherever two or three (or more) are gathered in His name. For now, we are pressing into prayer and readying ourselves for the return to in-person events so that God can do immeasurably more than we could ever imagine.
Thank you to all those who have already booked for our Lenten tour, we cannot wait to be with you! Lent is coming early this year and we still have open spots on our tour. We would love to chat with you about how we can bring your community together in faith this upcoming Lent. For booking inquiries, please email andrea@thevigilproject.com!
BECOME A PATRON
We are on a mission to restore our heritage of beauty through music, and we need your help! Be part of the mission by doing what the Church has been doing for centuries - patronizing the arts.