Steve Angrisano to perform at archdiocesan youth rally

Catholic musician Steve Angrisano of Highlands Ranch, Colo., sings during a youth ministry gathering on Feb. 20, 2007, at St. Matthew the Apostle Church in Indianapolis. He is the keynote presenter for the 2008 Archdiocesan High School Youth Rally on March 2 at Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis. Teenage musicians from St. Mark the Evangelist Parish in Indianapolis will assist Angrisano as the house band for the youth rally. (File photo by Mary Ann Wyand)

(Editor’s note: This story is part of an occasional series on Catholic musicians with connections to the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Read the rest here)

By Mary Ann Wyand

“Have guitar—will travel and evangelize” could be internationally known Catholic musician, composer and storyteller Steve Angrisano’s motto.

His Web site describes him as “a true road warrior [who] travels most of the year, bringing his exhilarating ministry to parishes and youth groups from coast to coast,” north to Canada, and abroad for World Youth Day concerts. (See a photo gallery from a 2007 concert at St. Matthew School in Indianapolis)

“Live: Songs from the Road,” “Welcome Home,” “Set Free,” “Live It,” “You Are the Way” and “Make a Difference” are among his high-energy Christian music CDs.

In the 2006 Unity Awards, Angrisano earned “Artist of the Year” honors as well as “Song of the Year” and “Songwriter of the Year” for “Mighty King.” (Go to his website)

Faith, family and music are so closely intertwined in Angrisano’s life that he lives his calling from God as a parent, youth minister and music minister every day. His wife, Jenni, and their three children—Julia, Joshua and Joseph—often travel with him from their home in Highlands Ranch, Colo., to weekend youth ministry conferences in other states. They pray as a family every day and often sing together.

Angrisano is the keynote presenter for “Infinite,” the 2008 Archdiocesan High School Youth Rally on March 2 at Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis.

He will also present a Lenten reflection and renewal concert which is open to the public at 7 p.m. on Feb. 29 at St. Jude Parish, 5353 McFarland Road, in Indianapolis.

Angrisano has many Catholic friends in the archdiocese that he met while serving as the keynote presenter for several archdiocesan youth conferences and parish missions as well as the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) held in Indianapolis in 2001.

In recent years, he also has presented youth and young adult ministry programs at Marian College and St. Matthew the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis.

Young Catholics from many countries have heard him sing during World Youth Day concerts in Rome in 2000 and Germany in 2006. He will also present a concert during World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia, in July.

Angrisano is known for his unique blend of laughter, songs, stories and humorous audience interaction skits that have earned him four NCYC concert invitations and keynote presentations at hundreds of diocesan youth rallies since he began his ministry 11 years ago.

Father Jonathan Meyer, director of youth ministry for the archdiocese, said Angrisano composed the music for the closing song, “Go Make a Difference,” sung at NCYC in Indianapolis six years ago.

“His ability to draw young people to prayer, to silence and to conviction is very impressive,” Father Meyer said. “He brings the core of his presentation and places it before the young people and asks, ‘What are you going to do now?’ He turns a talk into a conviction and incorporates it into a song or prayer, which is a gift and is not easy for a lot of people to do.”

Angrisano shares compelling stories about his faith and family during youth ministry presentations.

As part of his testimony, he occasionally mentions some of his experiences ministering to Columbine High School students in Littleton, Colo., after two boys with guns killed a teacher and 12 teenagers, wounded dozens of other teens then killed themselves on April 20, 1999.

Angrisano started playing the guitar and singing during Mass at his parish church when he was 12 years old, and as a young adult realized that God was calling him to youth ministry and music ministry.

Five hundred high school students are expected to participate in the youth rally this weekend, Father Meyer said, and Angrisano will help lead them in reflections on God’s infinite mercy, the infinite sacrifice of the Mass, the infinite presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and the infinite love of God, which Christians are called to share with others.

“Steve will lead us in beautiful prayers—in praise and worship—in front of the Blessed Sacrament,” he said. “Steve has the ability to be in the moment and to lead people to Christ, and that’s a gift.”

Angrisano smiles often and always wears a cross.

During a 2007 interview at St. Matthew Parish, Angrisano said he strives to be

a modern disciple of Christ and uses contemporary Christian music to bring young people closer to God.

He wrote the song “Mighty King” as “an expression that we have a God who is bigger than the difficulties in our life—bigger than the hurts—and in the end is victorious.”

It is “a pretty upbeat song that talks about allowing God to be part of our lives,” Angrisano said, which is the goal of his music ministry.

“At its heart, it is Catholic evangelization,” he explained, “that helps us know God and have a faith that we can live out every day with love.”

He attributes the phenomenal growth of youth ministry in the U.S. during the last two decades to the work of the Holy Spirit, World Youth Day gatherings started by the late Pope John Paul II in 1989 then continued by

Pope Benedict XVI, and both diocesan and parish efforts to welcome young people into the life of the Church.

“Music speaks a language that words alone do not,” Angrisano said. “It helps you pray with your head and your heart. I’ve always experienced that, and that’s why I am a musician.” †