 It was those who worship with the community who first encouraged us to record something to help them prolong their prayer in communion with us. It is our hope that the recording of our CD will meet this desire which they voiced. In recent months we have also had occasion to appear on BBC Radio Ulster programmes hosted by George Jones and Kim Lenaghan . These radio appearances further led listeners to ask that we make our chant available to the wider public.
The CD is a collection of Gregorian chants for the occasion of the Dedication of a church and also includes some polyphonic Taizé chants, as well as the psalm tones used at the monastery. Many coming at it from a totally secular listening ear have suggested that the relaxing Gregorian melodies constitute an excellent "chill-out remedy".
 The title of this album gives echo to a prayer of blessing contained in Psalm 121. In that psalm we hear the pilgrims who are making their way to the Temple of Jerusalem invoke the Lord's blessing of peace upon those who journey with them. Like those pilgrims on the road to Jerusalem, our community of Benedictine Monks is journeying towards God's House of Prayer for all Peoples, the new Monastery of the Holy Cross in Kilbroney Valley, just outside Rostrevor.
We too wish peace upon our listeners and upon all those we encounter along the way. Just as in time past many flocked to the ancient Celtic Monastery of Saint Bronagh in search of solace and peace, so we trust that all those who are seeking to find inner strength and fresh hope may be led to drink at the living source which still flows in Kilbroney Valley today.
 We wish to dedicate this recording to so many Friends and Benefactors who have engaged themselves with us in the adventure of faith which we have undertaken in God's name.
The launching of our recently recorded CD was an ecumenical event. At the invitation of the Dean, Very Rev. Houston McKelvey, it took place at Saint Anne's, the Church of Ireland Cathedral, in Belfast. The Guest-Speaker was Rev. Bert Tosh, a Presbyterian Minister who is a senior  producer with the BBC. Intrigued by the whole idea of the monks breaking their traditional silence in this novel way, the BBC Newsline Programme carried coverage of the event on Monday 7th of July, while more recently GMTV featured an item on the release of the CD as well.
In the course of her interview with the Monastery's Superior, Emma Louise Johnston (GMTV) enquired as to whether or not the community expected to reach the top of the charts. Dom Mark-Ephrem Nolan said in reply that while Saint Paul states that hope is not deceptive he wasn't sure the monks would arrive at the Top Ten! . But he did hope that the sale of the CD would buy some more bricks for the house of prayer for all people currently being built in Kilbroney Valley. |
