‘AFTERNOON OF LENTEN SONG’

Dan Schutte returns to the Albany Diocese for an Afternoon of Lenten Song on March 29. (Provided photo)

After a grueling winter in upstate New York, we can finally say that spring is around the corner.

Also around the corner — and perfect for the upcoming Easter season — is the return of Dan Schutte to the Albany Diocese. On Palm Sunday, March 29, Schutte will hold an “After­noon of Lenten Song” at Corpus Christi Church (2001 Route 9) in Round Lake at 3 p.m.

Back again for the third year, Schutte’s previous Lenten Song programs have been well-attended, drawing over 400 attendees each of the past two years. 

Kathleen Burgess, regional director of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) Albany Chapter, which hosts Schutte’s program each year, has seen the impact this event has had on attendees.

“It’s very prayerful; it’s almost like being on retreat,” she said. 

Schutte, an American composer of Catholic and contemporary Christian liturgical music, has been at the core of many churches’ liturgies for over 50 years. He is best known for his popular hymn, “Here I am, Lord.” 

New this year will be Bishop Mark O’Connell, who will introduce Schutte at the start of the program. Bishop Mark, who was installed in December, shared a story in his installation speech about hearing Schutte’s song, “Here I Am, Lord,” on his first day in seminary and tearing up from the song’s hymn. 

Burgess reached out to the Bishop’s office to let him know Schutte would be coming to the area: “I thought, who else could introduce him but the Bishop?” she laughed. “I said these two just have to meet!”

More than a concert, attendees sing along to Schutte’s songs as a means of prayer through song — something that his music is organically written for. 

“Dan’s music is based on Scripture, and it’s intended as prayer,” said Burgess. “Dan doesn’t just sing to us; it’s all of us singing together, which really is prayer. It’s prayer through song.”

Burgess hopes the day will give attendees a chance to come together in community and kick off the countdown to Easter Sunday.

“I think it’s a really lovely way to mark the beginning of Holy Week,” she said. “This will be right after the Palm Sunday liturgies and what a lovely way to be together; a large group of people, singing from our hearts these really prayerful songs.”

Added Burgess: “The programs before have been so spirit-filled, and I have every reason to believe it will be a very spirit-filled, prayerful afternoon.”

Registration is $15. Tickets can be purchased through IVC’s website at https://ivcusa.org/news-events/schuttealbany26/. Please email ­[email protected] if you have any questions.