THE PRIESTS - A CLASSICAL MUSIC GROUP WITH A DIFFERENCE

The Priests are:

· Father Eugene O’ Hagan, aged 50, of the Parish of Ballyclare and Ballygowan: Church of The Sacred Heart and Church of The Holy Family. Diocese of Down and Connor
· Father Martin O’ Hagan, aged 46, of the Parish of Cushendun: Church of St. Patrick (Craigagh), Church of St. Mary, The Star of the Sea (Culraney). Diocese of Down and Connor
· Father David Delargy, aged 46 of the Parish of Hannahstown: Church of St. Joseph and Church of St. Peter, the Rock , Diocese of Down and Connor

Accolades to date:
Global music phenomenon of the year with more than 2 million copies of their debut album sold worldwide
Bigger than Pavarotti - The Priests was the fastest selling classical debut album of all time – an official Guiness World Record holder.
Press highlights include Time magazine, Observer Music Monthly, UK broadsheets and national TV
They have pledged never to give up their "day jobs"
The Priests are a classical musical group made up of Fr Eugene O’Hagan, Fr Martin O’Hagan and Fr David Delargy. The trio met for the first time at St MacNissi’s College, County Antrim, and quickly realised their musical prowess as a singing trio. Singing was both part of prayer plus, in their spare time, they performed in local operas, musicals and choirs.
The Priests continued following their vocational training at The Seminary in Belfast and concluded their training at the revered Irish College in Rome after studying there for a total of 16 years between them. It was in Rome that their combined and rare talent was recognised, signified by the invitation of the Pope’s private secretary, the Papal Master of Ceremonies, to sing for the Pope in the sacred liturgy.
The Priests talent was soon recognised by Nick Raphael, a Sony Music record label head, and they signed to the label for a £1Million contract on the steps of Westminster Abbey in April 2008. The Priests were adamant to never allow their music commitments to stand in the way of their day jobs and parish obligations, and this is written into their contract.
The Priests debut performance was a spectacular event in Northern Ireland’s Armagh Cathedral in September 2008 where they sang a collection of classical and religious songs for a packed cathedral as well as for film cameras that were later to be broadcast coast to coast on the United States PBS channel. The concert was later released on DVD and soon became a best seller.
Their debut album, The Priests, was produced by legend Mike Hedges and Sally Herbet and released in Ireland on the 14th November 2008 by Epic Records. Globally it sold almost 2 million copies in more than 40 countries and topped the charts in Ireland, going platinum seven times over, as well as making the top tens in album charts and hitting platinum in countries as diverse as Spain, Norway and Sweden. To mark the album release an ITV documentary was broadcast detailing their extraordinary rise from obscurity to global stardom.
The Priests have since scooped the Guinness World Record for ‘Fastest-selling UK debut for a classical act’ and been nominated for a Classical Brit. They have played in venues across the world, playing live to 3,000 people in Sydney and to 6,000 people at a homecoming gig in June 2009. Other accolades include a personal invitation to sing for The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall as well as starting out their tour with a performance in the presence of HM The and Mary McAleese, the President of Ireland at a huge peace and reconciliation charity.
Their rise to global stardom has been documented across the world’s print including headline features in the Washington Post, Time Magazine and Observer Music Monthly and they have appeared in TV shows across the world with artists from Tom Jones to The Killers including the BBC’s coveted Jonathan Ross show and the News at Ten with Sir Trevor MacDonald.
Their second album, Harmony, is out on the 23rd November by Sony label Epic. The album will feature tracks such as The Lord’s Prayer and Amazing Grace and will be released once again by Sony label, Epic.

COMPLETE HARMONY FOR THE SINGING PRIESTS - A CLASSICAL MUSICAL GROUP WITH A DIFFERENCE

The Priests, the singing global superstars who broke the Guinness world record for the fastest selling classical debut album of all time, are releasing their second album in November. The album, entitled Harmony, will feature tracks such as The Lord’s Prayer and Amazing Grace and will be released once again by Sony label, Epic.
The Priests, brothers Fathers Martin and Eugene O’Hagan and Father David Delargy, were young school friends when they first sang together at the age of 12 (Martin and David) and 15 (Eugene). Their love of singing continued whilst studying for the priesthood in Rome. Once ordained, all three took up parish commitments. Singing was both part of prayer plus, in their spare time, they performed in local operas, musicals and choirs. In February 2008, a record company scout knocked on their door and asked them to make a demo. The rest, as they say is history. The Priests never allow their music commitments to stand in the way of their day jobs and parish obligations. So adamant are they that their priestly duties must come first, their recording contract stipulates that they will never be asked to put record promotion ahead of their pastoral work.
Since signing the £ million contract on the steps of Westminster Cathedral in April 2008, the Priests have enjoyed phenomenal global success. The release of their first album The Priests lead to them being nominated for a Classical Brit. If that wasn’t enough they have given one off performances to The President of Ireland, The Prince Of Wales and The Duchess Of Cornwall and last but no means least, Her Majesty The Queen.
The full time Priests and part time pop stars have performed live shows in Australia, the UK, America, Canada and Ireland, been front page news in some of the world’s largest publications, including Time magazine and The Washington Post. They have appeared on TV shows across the world with artists from Tom Jones to The Killers and made whistle stop visits to over 17 countries. They have even been interviewed by Jonathan Ross on his coveted prime time chat show as well as making the 10 o’ clock news with Sir Trevor McDonald. Their attraction then is evident, but Harmony proves once again that their talent is their most enduring feature and that 30 years of practising paid off.

PASTOR SETS WORLD RECORD IN FREE THROWING FOR FUND RAISING OF HIS CHURCH

It was a Friday night, and the crowd was abuzz with excitement as 6' 5" All-American forward Perry Dissmore confidently stepped to the free throw line. But would he make it? Would the ball float effortlessly through the air and cause the strings to "pop" as it dropped through the net . . . or would the ball drift slightly and bound off the rim?
Over the next hour, Pastor Perry Dissmore, now 38 and no longer a star forward for North Central Bible College (now North Central University in Minneapolis, Minnesota), would possibly ask himself that question subconsciously about 2,300 times on his way to a new world record....
Dissmore, who pastors Bear Creek Assembly of God in Panama City, Florida, has used his free throw shooting talent in the past to help raise money for building projects and other events, as people pledged funds per basket. But last year, Dissmore met with Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge (BGMC) Director David Boyd and some missionaries during a trip to Mexico. Boyd challenged Dissmore to do something with his talent that was "fantastic" to raise money BGMC.
"I went home and started investigating world records," Dissmore recalls. "I learned that the record for the most free throws made in an hour was 1,663 - about 28 free throws per minute. I didn't think I stood a chance at breaking the record . . . , but I discovered I could shoot free throws a lot faster than I originally thought."
But could he make a free throw faster than one every 2.16 seconds?
When Dissmore started practicing for the effort this past February, the attempt to break the record seemed out of reach. He was an excellent free throw shooter in college (88 to 90 percent), but now he was shooting in rapid-fire fashion and the record was "so far away, it seemed futile." But the more he practiced, the better he became.
Finally, after weeks of practice, he felt like he was within striking range of the record. So, he approached West Florida District Council Secretary Treasurer Mark Jakelsky with the idea of making this world record attempt the BGMC district fund-raiser. Jakelsky liked the idea so much, the district even created a DVD promoting the effort and encouraging churches throughout the district to help generate enthusiasm and pledges for the attempt.
"We have three specific ministries we're looking to help with BGMC funds through this effort," Dissmore says. "Fountain of Life school in Haskova, Bulgaria; Joyland, which ministers to and helps injured and orphaned children in Kenya; and job skill training for young mothers in Pakistan."
"Those pastors who have seen the DVD have loved the video and had an exceptional response to it," states Jakelsky. "We also developed a brochure for the event to help individual churches promote it and raise pledges. Our goal was to raise $50,000 for BGMC - and we're now just starting to see some of those pledges come in."
The date for the world record attempt was set for Friday, October 9, 2009. At 7:20 p.m. (Central), Dissmore stepped to the free throw line in the Chipola College gymnasium in Marianna, Florida, and with 200-300 witnesses and cameras rolling, he began his assault on the record books.
"It was really loud in there," Dissmore says. "The people were cheering and encouraging me . . . usually, every time I do it [shooting free throws for an hour in practice], I am completely wiped out by the end, but not this time . . . with the kids from all over the district there, it was an incredible adrenaline rush."
Dissmore felt confident he could break the record as he had done so before in practices. However, now his goal was to break 1,900 - a feat that would smash the world record, but something he had never accomplished in practice. An hour later, with the crowd cheering and Dissmore methodically firing up shots, the buzzer sounded, the hour was over and ball No. 1,926 dropped through the net . . . and pandemonium broke loose.
As "We Are the Champions" blared over the loud speakers, Dissmore's wife Nicole gave him a "big kiss" and the fans watching from the bleachers stormed the court, cheering and yelling and asking for autographs from the new world record holder.
"I was surrounded by people - the kids were everywhere," Dissmore recalls. "It was a very humbling when they asked for my autograph, so I spent some time doing that and talking with the kids . . . it became a neat celebration as we rejoiced in what God did that night."
"When I spoke to Perry, I just sensed a heart of compassion for the lost," says Marshall Bruner, Compassion Ministries coordinator for BGMC. "Sacrifice from people such as Perry and others - all raising money for BGMC - speaks volumes to their commitment to seeing people throughout the world come to know Christ as their personal Savior."
To place into perspective what Dissmore accomplished in shattering the old world record by 263 baskets (which is currently being verified by Guinness), first one has to understand that he "only" made about 84 percent of his shots (taking 2,300 to make 1,926). That's more than 38 free throws in a minute - and he would make 32 of them. In other words, in the three or four minutes it took to read this article, Dissmore would have shot well over 100 times - shooting a free throw every 1.57 seconds (and making a free throw, on average, every 1.87 seconds)!
According to Jakelsky, the world record attempt received great press and television coverage, helping to create a greater awareness of BGMC and the Assemblies of God within the district. However, the district is no stranger to BGMC. Although it's one of the smaller districts in the Assemblies of God (35th out of 61), it has been in the top 10 in giving to BGMC the last two years.
"Whether we hit our goal of $50,000 or not, we know children are going to be helped through this effort," Jakelsky says. "This is just part of what we're doing [for BGMC], and helps show how our district feels about helping children and BGMC."

OM RELEASES NEW RECRUITMENT DVD

Thanks to Operation Mobilization Asia Challenge Teams (ACT), now you can see what it would be like to serve in Asia. The ACT program offers potential missionaries the opportunity to travel to various locations in Asia and experience diverse cultures and peoples.
A new recruiting DVD recently arrived to educate people about mission programs in Southern and Eastern Asia. The DVD targets individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 years old.
There are three versions of the DVD, and each gives prospective missionaries a taste of Asia. An overview of ACT's one- and two-year programs is contained in the 2-minute version. More detail is included in the 5-minute version, and ACT's 8-minute version gives the greatest amount of detail. This version features interviews and personal testimonies from previous ACT workers.
Teams of 3 to 4 people from different nationalities are placed in locations around South and East Asia. They experience a wide variety of activities, as well as the Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist cultures. Most learning comes from working alongside nationals and serving the local church. Teams are moved to a different location about every 6 months.
Pray that this resource will be widely used and will stir God's people into action. Pray that lives will be changed through this video, and that it will generate prayer and support for ACT's work in Asia.
Click here to watch the 2-minute version, or visit the ACT Web site.