Messenger
Messenger is the "house band" for the 6:00 PM Life Teen Mass at St. Agnes. With vocalists, guitars, drums, and keyboards they make this Mass much different than your parent's Mass! Dedicated to bringing God's message to teens and everyone else through music, Messenger brings up-tempo rock, folk and contemporary Christian Music to the Mass. Messenger is proud that the 6:00 Mass ranges from teens to seniors and most people can be seen singing along.
The following is an excerpt from the national Life Teen website about Music Ministry:
"From the very beginning (1985) we at LIFE TEEN have, like most in youth ministry, recognized the vital importance of quality music when working with teenagers. Many young people create or find their identity in the music culture.
We do not necessarily have to imitate or compete directly with the musical style of the moment—the style is forever changing—but we DO need to provide high quality and relevant music in our liturgies and LIFE Nights.
Teens are not coming to church looking for "cool". They are hungry for, or deprived of, truth and unconditional love. How does this relate to music ministry? We try not to "wow" young people or lure them into the faith by the groove of the music (though if that happens, praise God.) If we can be authentic—live and pray the lyrics we sing, and do so with a musical arrangement that is relative to THEIR culture, we will make a difference in their lives.
Remember, young people are just as "impressed" with a simple and well-prepared psalm response, sung and played with joy, musical deftness and authenticity, as they are with a rockin' song for Jesus. Our goal is not to impress teens, but to disappear and let Christ shine through us."