City of Snow (myspace.com/cityofsnow), on the other hand, is a band with Catholic members Andrew Hall and Bryce Russell. They have just released an EP entitled True Reason after initial success at local band competitions.  

Finally, I would like to introduce you to FX of Grace (myspace.com/fxofgrace), a young band from Alberta, with brothers Andrew and Nicholas Peloso, Dylan and Daxon Jones as well as Ashton Siqueira. I was impressed by them in Calgary at last year’s UCMVA awards and they are currently in the studio recording their debut album.

For these young artists, creating music can be a challenge.  

“It's hard to fit in music with school, sports and social activities”, said Mags. Hall from FX agrees. “One of the biggest roadblocks is the time commitment. It becomes difficult to manage all of our schedules.”

There are secular peer pressures as well. Dunn finds that “it is often frowned upon that I've put more focus on the faith aspect of my life in my music. People often encourage a greater focus on secular pursuits, as these may lead to more fame and fortune.”  

Despite it all, all these talented musicians still have time to support the Church.  

“We have offered to be involved in youth ministry at the parish level,” said Andrew Hall. “Although we are not classified as a worship band, we are Christians and consider everything we do to be a method of worship.”

As someone who has followed Catholic music for a long time, I am most excited by the spiritual fervour these youth show.

“Faith-based music has helped me through some very rough times in my life; in return, I want to pass on the same message of encouragement that I received” said Mags.  

City of Snow desires to “reach out to any people in our path through using music as ministry, to bring people to realize the power of Jesus Christ and encourage them to become better people.”  

Dunn feels a call to offer an alternative to secular music.  

“With the amount of worldly music that surrounds us every day, it is so important that musicians share their love for the Lord through the gift of music.”

It is also clear that they draw this fervour from being close to the Church. Despite their youth, Andrew Peloso knows where to go for spiritual guidance.  

“I am inspired most through the sacrament of the Mass, and at holy adoration. These are times where we are the closest we can ever be on this Earth to Christ, as we receive and adore Him in His true presence."

There is also the common goal of trying to reach their generation. From City of Snow: “Our message for the youth is that there is a God who loves you. This same God longs to touch your heart as well regardless of what you have done in the past.”  

From FX of Grace: “We want the youth to be inspired by our music and ministry, so much so that they share the light of Christ in their community and develop a personal relationship with God.”  

From Dunn: “I think that as young people, there are so many distractions through which we turn our eyes away from Christ. I want to remind young people about the great importance of prayer in their daily lives, as they face difficult daily struggles of being a Catholic young person.”.  

For Mags, the message is simple: “Be not afraid”.

So now, it is time for me to sign off with The Catholic Register. I will, however, continue to write and be involved in CCM music, both as a reviewer and as a member of Critical Mass. This column will be continuing online at CatholicRock.com where I invite my faithful readers to come and continue with me to explore music in the Catholic and Christian context.