Encore: The Singing Priest, Fr. Ray Kelly, talks about his “Hallelujah” wedding song—UPDATED

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:56 pm by Deacon Greg Kandra

Encore: The Singing Priest, Fr. Ray Kelly, talks about his “Hallelujah” wedding song—UPDATED 2016-09-30T15:56:47-04:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

He appeared on RTE’s “The Late Late Show” a few nights back. He performed an encore of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” just as he did at the wedding, and talked about that phenomenal (and controversial) moment below.

http://youtu.be/DYR8H5Ll74k

UPDATE: Writing at Catholic Vote, Kate O’Hare offers some poignant, hopeful thoughts on this phenomenon, and what it might mean for the church in Ireland:

While questions could be asked about the liturgical correctness of singing the song—even with the customized lyrics celebrating the bride and groom—at the altar during the Nuptial Mass, it’s as if Ireland’s currently pinched Catholic heart grew two sizes upon hearing it.

…If the Catholic Church in Ireland is to redeem Herself in the hearts of the people, it may begin where it always has, with the parish priest. In this case, it’s 60-year-old Father Kelly, the pastor of Oldcastle, County Meath, northwest of Dublin, since 2006.

He surprised Chris and Leah O’Kane and their assembled friends and family with a version of Cohen’s mournful yet uplifting ballad that spoke of marital love and added their own names.

He said he’s been invited to Lithuania, Croatia and Japan for weddings, but added, “I’m not sure what my bishop would say about that.”

Kelly has released two albums for charity and is working on a third.

In an emotional piece for IrishCentral.com on April 12 – which richly deserves a click to read the whole thing –Cahir O’Doherty writes, “With the endless abuse scandals in the church and the arrogance of so many clerics still refusing to acknowledge the pain and revulsion they created, it’s a startlingly uncommon thing to see an Irish priest make himself look vulnerable nowadays.”

He continues, “So I think Father Kelly is on to something. He knows how to reach his congregation with complex and compassionate messages that celebrate their community and their faith. That’s the kind of awareness that used to make a priest what the Irish called a sagart.

“It’s also a timely reminder that it will be love and human goodness that will prevail against the exclusionary forces the event the Pope himself feels have often hijacked the Vatican and the faith.

“Father Kelly’s song was a beautiful moment, and such an Irish one, too, because it was a reminder that there’s hope for us yet. Good men can prevail against princes after all; all it takes is for one man to stand up.”

Amazing video

Priests

Previous Post

April 15, 2014

Something wondrous: 14 years of a girl's life in 4 minutes

Next Post

April 15, 2014 Obama praises pope at Easter prayer breakfast

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "Mad Men" 9/11 advent All Things New Amazing video amazing videos amazon america Anglicans Anti-Catholicism art ascension thursday ash wednesday Atheists baltimore Bible Bishops Blogging bonnie engstrom Books bridgeport Brooklyn Chaplains children christian art christmas Church Churches CNEWA Converts criticism Deacons Death Penalty easter eastern christian Eastern Christians Ecumenism education Education Eucharist Europe euthanasia Evangelization Exorcism Family Feasts Gay rights Good Friday Great links Great Moments in Journalism Hanging with the saints heather renshaw Hispanic Catholics Hispanics History homelies Homilies Humor Hymn of the Week Immigration indianapolis Inspiration Interfaith news ireland Jesus Jews Journalism Judaism lent Liturgy logos Marriage Mary Media Medical news Mental health Middle East Monks Movies Music Muslims My world and welcome to it New Evangelization new york News Nuns Parenting Parish life peoria Persecution politics Politics Pope pope francis pope john paul Prayer Preaching Priests Pro-life Quote of the day radio rebecca frech ripp Ripped from the headlines rippred from the headlines Sacraments saints Scripture sex abuse Sex abuse crisis SEX ABUSE CRISIS TAGGED WITH: SEX ABUSE CRISIS The people in the pews the visitation project theatre This & that Thomas Merton Trappists TV Uncategorized uncategorized Vatican VATICAN vocation Vocations Voices & Views Women Worth a thousand words Writing Year of Faith year of mercy young people

Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who pleaded with Joseph for Benjamin's release?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Naphtali Reuben Judah Levi

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »