Franciscan Sisters Feature Minnesota Musicians' Streaming Christmas Concert through December at the Franciscanized World http://fscc-calledtobe.org

    ST. PAUL, MN, December 04, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The multi talented musicians, members of the Minnesota Association of Songwriters, include Michael Loonan, Stephen Buttell, Richard Schletty and Azar Dagher, and Ruby Nordby generously joined together to offer festive and reflective listening joy.

Songs include Michael Loonan's version of "All Through The Night". "I wanted to create some new 'musical passages,' taking this beautiful song into unexplored places, then returning safely to the original melody. Brigid McCarthy overdubbed most of my keyboard parts with violin and added some lines of her own. I hope this song brings you to a place of peace and calm during the holiday seasons."

St. Paul based Musician, Songwriter and Producer Michael Loonan's Nativity Parish group Spiritu has released two CDs, Spiritu and Good News and are currently working on a new holiday release.

About "Star of Mystery" by Richard Schletty and Azar Dagher, Schletty explained that "Azar Dagher wrote the words and melody for "O Star of Mystery." It has roots in the Greek Catholic Melkite tradition and uses the Arabic pentatonic scale." Azar commented "Star of Mystery is meant to be mysterious and pondering: Three Kings from the East. The lyrics address the star but viscerally evoke the Mother of Jesus." Add Schletty "The "star of mystery" represents not just a guide to the Baby Jesus in Bethlehem but Mary, the Mother of God." St. Paul based songwriter Schletty is also an experienced cantor, songleader and choral singer, and administers TopCatholicSongs.com.

Songwriter Stephen Buttell's "It's Christmas" "was written with the intention of composing one of the next traditional holiday songs. I believe that God sometimes gives us writers gifts of music and words, to spread a message, and to touch people's lives with a song."

"Good King Wenceslas" is a reflective interpretation by pianist Ruby Nordby. Commented Sr. Marsaia Kastner "In this version, we can hear the majesty and joy of the melody itself. She uses exciting, rhythmically complicated measures to contrast with more usual rhythms and moods. I especially like the middle section which reminds me of the beauty of the snowy evening portrayed in the sung version. Ruth does surprising things with her variations on a familiar Christmas carol."

Established in 1869, the Roman Catholic Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity serve in Catholic Health Care, Education and Parish-Community Service in the Upper Midwest, Southwest, and Central U.S. Their Franciscanized World News Page offers updates on the sister's latest ministries and vocations, and celebrates seeing the world as St. Francis and St. Clare did: the good and holy possibility in the culture of everyday life.

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