Songs for all: eternity

Sydney
30 June 2002

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Songs for all: eternity

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Songs for all: eternity

Jane Chifley ... music for free on eternity

By Marilyn Kerjean

“Contemporary music and the internet are proving the tools that are on the cutting edge of evangelisation today,” says Catholic singer and songwriter Jane Chifley, 34.

“The Pope himself is setting an example; he’s got something like 125 bands playing at the World Youth Day rally. I often look at what he does and he shows the way,” she says.

With this in mind Jane, of Bathurst, set up her website - www.eternitymusic.com.au - to promote her contemporary praise and worship music and allow people to obtain some of her songs by downloading them free of charge.

Now she is offering the site as a forum for other Catholic musicians, here and abroad, to share their songs as well.

It will also promote artists who seek to worship God through painting, design or other mediums.

Apart from Jane’s music, the website features a CD by an American band and a local CD of traditional Catholic music, plus the work of a visual artist.

Jane’s music style covers rock, easy listening, country and folk.

She has performed at concerts and rallies and has been involved in ecumenical gatherings in her area.

But she says the Internet seems especially successful in reaching the young faithful and non-churchgoers through music with Christian themes.

Around 60 per cent of households have a computer, and half of those probably have internet access most often used by young people, says Jane.

“Rock music is a way that young people can be reached; not by taking away from what the Church already has in its liturgy, but adding to it,” she says.

Jane says she would like to see contemporary Christian music used to reach young people in “other paddocks” - in pubs or at concerts - and inspiring them to approach the sacraments.

“That’s what other Christian churches are doing, how they’re evangelising, and we’re being called to do that as well.”

If your band plays contemporary praise and worship music and would like to appear on the Eternity Music website write to PO Box 353 Bathurst 2795 or visit www.eternitymusic.com.au