By Clayton Imoo

Special to The B.C. Catholic

 

Clayton Imoo interviewed Matt Maher via email. Maher, a Catholic recording artist and songwriter, will kick off Archdiocesan Conference One: "One Faith, One Body, One Mission" with a concert at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17.

 

The Vancouver Convention Centre's doors will open at 7 p.m. for the beginning of the Feb. 17 and 18 conference (info and registration at www.rcav.org/conference.

 

Clayton Imoo: Tell us a bit about yourself.

 

Matt Maher: I was born in St. John's, Nfld., and I lived there for 20 years. I've been in Phoenix, Ariz. for the past 17 years. I got married a year and a half ago, and my wife Kristin and I have a 5-month-old son named Conor.

 

I'm on the road a fair amount, as touring season usually runs from February through May and October through November. There are also other things that come up along the way; it's a calling and it's hard at times, but serving the Church this way is a unique and amazing opportunity, and it's a sacrifice that my family and I are making together in this season of life.

 

CI: What do you enjoy most about song-writing, performing, and touring?

 

MM: DEFINITELY seeing how the Church is being the hands and feet of Christ, as well as hearing about how God uses songs to inspire and bring about change in people's hearts and lives. I feel like the songs I write are just a soundtrack for that. God is doing all the hard work. 

 

CI: When did you decide that you could do music full time? Was there a turning point?

 

MM: I think I've been deciding every day for 17 years now to love God and follow Him. Music was just a way that came naturally. It was more of a practical consideration than a "calling," given the talents I was given, the skills I love and excel at.

 

Along the way there have been "signposts" in life, I think, encouraging me to keep going. I mean, it would be great to do something in life that you're passionate about (but you're actually not good at) AND make a living.

 

CI: Please talk about the influence that serving with Life Teen has had on your ministry.

 

MM: Life Teen is a great ministry that seeks to help connect teenagers with the truth of the sacraments of the Catholic Church. These sacraments are concrete ways people can encounter the real, tangible, love of God.

 

CI: What excites you about returning to Vancouver? What are some of your favourite memories of Vancouver?

 

MM: I'm Canadian! Isn't that reason enough? I LOVE VANCOUVER! I love the people, the diversity; I love the Church there. Honestly, the Church in Vancouver is very vibrant and alive; and the food is fantastic!.

 

CI: Why is our conference theme of One (One Faith, One Body, One Mission) important for the Church today?

 

MM: We live in a time where the popular sentiment is very mistrustful of large institutions, but in the case of the Church, the large institution IS the people of God, the Body of Christ. So a communal "adherence" to the teachings of Christ and His Church is hugely important to keep us together.

 

Not only that, it is a HUGE statement that is countercultural, that is, it stands in contrast to a world of so much rampant selfish individualism. Now is a time of potential unparalleled unity amongst Catholics, but (as western society drifts further and further away from any foundational Judeo-Christian philosophy) it is also a time for Christians of all denominations to come together in faith.

 

CI: Tell us about your most recent album, The Love in Between. Any particular influences or consistent themes?

 

MM: Um, life? I fell in love and got married; that was a HUGE influence. I met a lot of people who are having a harder and harder time "connecting the dots" between faith, life, worship, the economy, etc. This album was an attempt to express my heart while trying to meet the average listener where they are, and take them on a journey.

 

CI: What are some blessings/challenges of being a Catholic on the contemporary Christian music scene?

 

MM: Honestly, at this point, there aren't any challenges. There are questions and misunderstandings, but I've seen all of that as an opportunity to grow in charity and humility and to grow in my understanding of my faith and how to describe it to not only other Christians, but people who don't even know about Jesus as a historical figure.

 

CI: What can concertgoers look forward to during your Friday night concert?

 

MM: A great night that is entertaining and engaging, and perhaps gives them an opportunity to have an encounter with God.

CI: How can we pray for you?

 

MM: Please pray for my family. People pray for me all the time because they listen to my music or come and see a concert. Please pray for the families of artists that you like. It's a huge sacrifice of love, and we need the prayers and support of the Church.