I was born and raised a Catholic but have never been an outwardly religious person. In fact, I am more comfortable with a sort of private and quiet faith which is strongly rooted in my heart. However, because I am also proud of my Christian heritage, there must also be a balance.

Although I have always been a faith-filled person, for many years I simply had no desire to attend mass. In part, it was sheer laziness. Yet also it often seemed that mass was more about form and procedural dogma than the true essence of the biblical lessons and the birth, life, sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That was until my wife found a small Roman Catholic community known as St. Elizabeth Seton of Rocky Hill, Connecticut.

On our first Sunday there, we were welcomed with a rose and a handshake from the attending father. This was done during a break in the entrance hymn and with the applause and good wishes of the entire assembly. At that moment, although not entirely comfortable, I felt as though I could belong there.

A few years later, I was asked to join the choir because a fellow parishoner learned that I had done some writing and performing in a former life (not really). Well, I joined, but I was very nervous - - not so much from public performance, but from the ingrained fear of doing something "wrong" or that I wasn't "good enough" to be a part of such a group. I quickly learned that singing in mass was not at all about me, but about the gospel and the teachings of Jesus. In other words, I was good enough to get the job done and to know that I didn't have to be perfect - - because being perfect is not what God expects of me.

After such a revelation and sometimes a pretty good homily, the songs on this record and many more started coming to me. And with the encouragement of my music director, Elizabeth V. Husmer, I have recorded these faithfilled songs in an effort to share a part of my quiet yet profound faith with you.