Irish Tenor Mark Forrest has a gift

Today was a gift. Internationally renown Irish tenor Mark Forrest sang at today's masses and also led a special Eucharistic Adoration service (which I just got back from). His presence was in part in honor of our Irish Pastor, Msgr. Page, retiring after 25 years at our church, and also to celebrate 11 years of Eucharistic Adoration at our church.

In addition to being a man blessed with an amazing voice, Mark Forrest is also a devout Catholic and devoted family man. He shared with us his heartwrenching testimonial of the tragedy in his family.....Mark and his wife, Muriel, had 8 boys. The third boy was born with a severely deficient heart and lived only five days. Three of his other sons were born with an extremely rare nerve condition which has left them blind and wheelchair-bound. Yet through their faith in Jesus Christ, they have turned this unfathomable tragedy into hope for others. They created the Faith and Family Foundation, which seeks to provide support and help for families and individuals with special needs.

The Eucharistic Adoration service led by Mark was phenomenal. A night of praying, reflection, singing, and focused adoration of Jesus Christ's real presence (body, blood, soul and divinity) in the Eucharist.....sacred, powerful stuff. Some of the songs he sang were: "You Are Mine", "Sherpherd Me, O God", "Above All", "Prayer of Saint Francis", and "How Great Thou Art". His "Tantum Ergo" at the height of the service was so moving and otherworldly it absolutely filled the chapel and just echoed throughout. Goosebumps.

You can purchase Mark's music or learn more about his foundation on the following websites:

http://www.markforrest.com/
http://www.faithandfamilyfoundation.org/