"I have been listening and giving my two cents on music longer than I care to mention. It takes a lot to get a "wow" out of me. Matt Mayer gets a "wow" out of me every time.

 Matt is fresh, original and always surprising. His music makes you listen; then it makes you feel. Today, when so much of what we listen to feels constructed, Matt reminds you that the best music is the product of brain and heart and nerves and fingers. What Matt plays comes from him...and watching him play is another story all together. He approaches the piano like a hungry man looking for a meal. With a smile that says 'I love this' and a swagger that says 'I am going to show you something you've never seen before.'"

"Matt Mayer is a star ready to shine."

~George Larrimore
NBC Studios, Access Hollywood Studio

Matthew Mayer, a gifted musician and performer, is now sharing his talents with Mary's Touch! An accomplished musician, Matt's performances are attracting the attention of people everywhere, and critics are taking note. As Kathy Parsons of www.solopianopublications writes,

"It seems like a lot of artists are concerned about creating music that fits a niche—music for massage, music that soothes, music that uplifts, etc.—and then there are those who throw classifications to the wind and just follow their passions. Matthew Mayer is one such artist, and I’m so impressed that he has such courage in his musical convictions at such a young age. A little bit new age and a little bit rock ‘n roll, Mayer’s music immediately reminded me of Dax Johnson’s with a little more polish. Exploring the tender sounds of the piano as well as its full sonorities, Mayer’s compositions are full of life and vibrance."

Matt's talents have taken him from Canistota's Ortman Clinic to Beverly Hill's Nordstrom's in California. His performance résumé includes NBC's Access Hollywood's 2002 Christmas Party, The Mall of America Holiday Music Festival, two appearances at Washington D.C.'s Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, The Western Governor’s Association at South Dakota’s Mount Rushmore, the 2006 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder Event, Sanford Cancer Center’s Journey of Healing, Jeanie Moreland Dance Studio in Columbus Ohio, Yankton’s Mount Marty Catholic College, Sioux Fall's Rib Fest, McKennan Park, Festival of Cultures, Minneapolis' International Airport, Washington Pavilion, and several solo piano performances at the newly renovated Farber Hall in Vermillion, South Dakota.

Matt was born 29 years ago in Canistota, SD. He started playing the piano at age 12 and has been writing and composing music ever since. He attended the University of South Dakota and, following his graduation with a B.A. in Business Administration, spent an additional year there in formal piano education and training. Following college, Matt taught for one semester at the university. His course, "The Business of Music," was a first in USD's history—combining curriculum from both the fine arts program and business school. After his teaching stint, Matt moved to California where he worked for NBC's "Access Hollywood." He recently attained an M.B.A. from USD  and continues to expand his audiences with his unique playing style and sound. He currently resides in Omaha, NE.

In the fall of 1999, Matt's first CD, "Crossing the Bridge," was released under his own label, Mayer Music LLC. Since then, he has produced seven solo piano CDs, including two Christmas CDs.

You can hear Matt's inspirational performances on Mary's Touch  starting with Program 1.9.

Listen to more of Matt's music by clicking the following links:

From his CD, "BEYOND" — http://www.matthewmayer.com/products.asp?cat=12

From his CD, "CROSSING THE BRIDGE"— http://www.matthewmayer.com/products.asp?cat=10

From his CD, "REFLECTIONS"— http://www.matthewmayer.com/products.asp?cat=14

To find out more about Matt, visit his Web site at: http://www.matthewmayer.com/

To contact Matt, e-mail him at: mayermusic@hotmail.com

Click here to listen to Matt Mayer's uncut interview!

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In 2006, Annie-Alex and the ladies in the Rosary Ministry made and gave away 10,000 rosaries (yes that is correct—the number has four zeroes). One of their members makes rosaries for the babies baptized at the church, another serves our military with the rosaries she makes, many others make rosaries for the sick (they are constructed completely of plastic beads and cord so they don’t show up during medical procedures such as CT scans). As their coordinator, Annie-Alex Nathenson says, “with our hands, we are changing the world, one rosary at a time.”

In addition to coordinating the rosary ministry, Annie-Alex makes  exquisite rosaries for purchase. Many of them are made to commemorate special occasions, such as a wedding, First Holy Communion, or the birth of a child. She also makes friendship rosaries, angel rosaries, and theme rosaries. Each and every one of her rosaries is enclosed in a lovely lace  bag and drawn up with a ribbon drawstring. When you see one of Annie-Alex's rosaries, you feel the urge to pick it up, and having done so, you feel drawn to prayer.

While attending the NEA (New Evangelization of America) Conference in Dallas in February 2006, Cheri Lomonte attended a screening of Bella, winner of the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival. Following the show, she wrote this about the film:

"Bella is a movie you don’t want to miss. The story is about an international soccer star and an attractive waitress who experience an unforgettable day in New York City that changes their lives forever. Bella is a beautiful story about love, life, and relationships in the face of the unexpected. I find myself thinking about the story as I’m doing dishes or in the shower. To me that is a sign of a great movie. It doesn’t leave you alone.

That same night, one of the stars (who is also one of the producers of the film), Eduardo Verástegui, visited with us about 'unusual' stories of miracles that happened during the filming. No doubt this movie was meant to be. Watch for it and don’t miss it."

In an Mary's Touch Program 1.13, Cheri and Sally visit with Eduardo Verástegui, Alejandro Monteverde, and Sean Wolfington, of the film Bella. Hear their stories of faith and how a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe helped them in their quest to make this movie.

Photo credits: Linda Fullenkamo, Hillenbrand Graphic Communications, Batesville; Engleking's Creative Photography, Batesville. Copyright by Saint Catherine of Siena Press.

Father Mahan is the Executive Director of the Marian College Center for Catholic Stewardship in Indianapolis, IN, and author of the book, More than Silver or Gold—Homilies of a Stewardship Priest *

During his visit with Cheri and Sally, Father Mahan reflects on the beautiful example of stewardship that Mary provides for us and talks at length about how powerful Mary's prayers of intercession are, how appropriate it is for us to pray to her, and why we should ask her to pray for us and with us.

"Jesus gave the Blessed Mother a charge when she stood at the foot of His cross...He looked down at her and said, 'Woman, behold your son,' and in that statement, He gave her a directive...He put all of His disciples in her care...and what does a mother do? She prays for her children."

Hear more of Father Mahan's beautiful message on Mary's Touch Program 1.11!

* Father Mahan's book bears the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur. To read an excerpt of More than Silver or Gold—Homilies of a Stewardship Priest, visit the Learn more about Mary page on this Web site.

To order copies of More than Silver or Gold—Homilies of a Stewardship Priest, call (888) 544-8674 or visit Saint Catherine of Siena Press at http://www.saintcatherineofsienapress.com

To learn more about the Marian College Center for Catholic Stewardship, visit their Web site at: http://www.marian.edu/aboutmarian_newsbriefs.asp?ID=202

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Robert Ricks, of the NOAA Weather Service in Slidell, LA.

Robert Ricks at his desk with his rosary.

In June 2006, The Smithsonian Institute took possession of items from the Slidell Bureau to mark the historic significance of the events leading to and following Hurricane Katrina. Among the articles collected for the museum was Mr. Ricks' rosary.

Click here to view the official storm prediction written by Robert Ricks, and see his essay on the significance of his rosary.

Hear Robert's inspiring story in Mary's Touch Program 1.16!

"Mary's Legacy" extends our Blessed Mother's "Yes" by allowing us to continue her work of bringing Love into this world...by affirming life, by assisting those who help others, and by promoting life-giving ministries.

In the diocese of Austin (Texas) over 40 parishes currently have a Gabriel Project in place. To learn more about or to make a donation to Gabriel Project at St. Mary's Cathedral in Austin, please contact Zonia Grace at gracezoniav@yahoo.com

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