September 16, 2017

Christian music legend performs in Westfield

REGIONAL
By Kathleen Harrington

(IObserve photo/courtesy of John Michael Talbot Ministries)

WESTFIELD – Singing the lyrics, ‘Lord, send forth your spirit,’ John Michael Talbot opened his Friday evening concert, Sept. 15,  at Westfield State University’s Dever Stage at Parenzo Hall. The Grammy award winning Christian music legend drew an audience from around the Diocese of Springfield and the Northeast. Fans from outside Utica, New York and Portland, Conn., joined those from Southampton, Agawam, West Springfield, and Westfield for this night of evangelization.

Sponsored by St. Mary Parish in Westfield and the Albert and Amelia Ferst Interfaith Center at Westfield State, the concert was the latest evangelization effort to reach people where they are. On this night, they were on their feet, singing along with Talbot.

“Thirty years ago, I heard John Michael Talbot music for the first time,” said Father Frank Lawlor, pastor of St. Mary Parish. “His music, his life, show us that we are all on a journey.”  

Talbot said his fans are on the journey with him. He described his audience as older people who grew up on his music.

“I hear it all the time, you are the soundtrack of my life,” he said. After spending decades making more than 150 appearances a year in concerts and parish missions, Talbot said the pace can’t continue.

“I had some health issues and the doctors said to slow down and my bishop told me to slow down. So I’m slowing down,” he explained. “That gives me more time in hermitage.” The time away from the world gives him time to pray more and to pray for mercy for his sins.

Talbot is a convert to Catholicism. After dropping out of high school, he toured with his brother’s band, Mason Proffit, in the late 1960s. When the band broke up, he embarked on a spiritual journey, which led him to the Catholic Church. He founded a community, The Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage in Arkansas. Some of his songs include, “Holy is his Name,” and “Breathe on Me.”

“I find his music is uplifting. I listen to it in the car,” said a fan from Connecticut who drove more than an hour to see Talbot in concert.

“I was invited to come tonight by a friend in my Bible study,” said another.

Many longtime fans were in the VIP audience. The doors opened early for them to attend the sound check. Talbot engaged them in conversation as the sound engineer worked out the technical difficulties. Many asked Talbot to play their favorite music.  One request, for “Walk and Follow Jesus” drew a somber response from Talbot.

 “I wrote that for my mother’s funeral. I have a hard time getting through it,” he explained.

Books and CDs by John Michael Talbot were sold in the lobby and proved popular with concert goers.

“Listening to this kind of music is peaceful,” explained one concertgoer.

 A video version of this story will air on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. on WWLP TV22.