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Growing up Catholic

As a catholic, born and bred, I have spent my entire life going to weekly Sunday mass. I was lucky, we had a great youth ministry and positive experiences. Yet still, as I sat in different church pews in different parishes there was a dwindling spirit especially in the music department. The old faves from the 70's, the traditional hymns, then the mass settings we had sung over and over. I sat and pondered. How can we bring the music to life?

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Musicians / Choir

Enter the volunteer musicians. They are loyal, hopeful and want to provide meaningful liturgy. Mass For Living has thought of all the 'little' things that can make organising a mass or liturgy much easier and more enjoyable to prepare. I hope this helps to refresh your community and paves the way to open hearts and minds to God in order to have a lasting impact in our lives.

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Annie Higgins - Artist

Anne Maree performs live in the music industry music. As Annie Higgins she rocks the stage with her original soul, funk, reggae and pop music in venues around Adelaide. Now, as a signed artist with Underfoot Records, Anne Maree (Annie Higgins the Artist) has recorded several singles and recently released a second album Pot of Gold. Visit her website.

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Writing Music That Speaks to the Soul

As an independent songwriter, musician and vocal coach I feel that the Holy Spirit moves through music. I felt inspired to write relevant music that touches the souls of our young to help them get to know the word of God in a relatable and fulfilling way. It was 2009- enter the New English Translation. I had already begun to write a new mass setting and then had to pivot around the New Translation from Rome. It was a challenge but it also felt like it was a chance to re-engage people into the ancient liturgy with a modern twist. It was very important to me that the top liturgists of the country approved my work. As a budding artist, I took my mother and my new baby to the National Liturgical Conference in Perth and put Mass For Living in the ring. It was a trying time as I fed my baby at the back of the hall at the liturgy conference!! Once I had everything signed, sealed and delivered I offered it to the people. It got approved but contemporary music still has some way to go in being accepted as a legitimate form of music for sacred worship, especially when it comes to Mass Settings. Our music must speak in the vernacular, touch the hearts of people while remaining loyal to the beauty of our tradition and our Gospel values. So many people have historically left the church or dwelled on the fringes because there has been a disconnect between the music that is of our time and the faith stories of people's real lives. That's why we need to sing about the injustices of our time. It's time our church was open, authentic and relevant.

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Anne Maree Higgins

Anne Maree Higgins is a university graduate of Theology and Philosophy (Hons) and over 20 years experience in youth retreats and liturgies. Her work in parish and diocesan ministry as well as for religious congregations has seen her creatively draw her talents and church experience into one. In recent years she graduated as a Vocal Teacher and is a published songwriter and continues to write and perform.

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