Father Ray Kelly, the Irish priest whose personalized rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" went viral last spring, will release his debut album, "Where I Belong," in the U.S. on March 10.
The album is already a hit with fans in Ireland, Germany, and the UK, and showcases the 61-year-old's soulful voice and passion for performing.
The 10-track project includes original and cover songs, Celtic classics, and church hymns recorded in Father Ray's home at St. Brigid's Catholic Church and parochial house in Oldcastle, Meath.
In an exclusive interview with Christian Today, the full-time priest discussed "Where I Belong," Pope Saint John Paul II's influence, and how a song by a secular artist can still touch the soul.
Christian Today: Over 39 million people have watched the video of you singing "Hallelujah" in less than a year. How have your parishioners responded to your newfound fame?
Father Ray Kelly: I suppose they've been very happy and excited about it really, seeing their parish leader exposed to the media and limelight. It's unusual, but they're very excited about it and very supportive. It's a good story; a positive story.
CT: You've said that you are very much committed to remaining a priest full-time, and will continue in the ministry as you have for nearly three decades. How did Pope Saint John Paul II's visit to Ireland in the late '70s influence your decision to enter the priesthood?
Father Ray: John Paul came to Ireland in '79, September 1979. Before that, for about a year or two, I was thinking about the priesthood... it was sort of a tug of war in my head for a while about it.
The following year, in 1980, a group of us in the Catholic Youth Council traveled to Rome to meet John Paul to thank him for coming to Ireland... He celebrated Mass with us, and then we put on a concert for him.
Times like that, looking back, that was the Spirit that was working in John Paul for me to begin studying to be a priest. Actually three or four guys in that group who went over there actually went on to become priests afterwards.
CT: "Where I Belong" includes covers of R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts" and Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven." How do you respond to criticism that Christian artists shouldn't sing secular songs?
Father Ray: I picked those songs because they are great songs. "Everybody Hurts," there's a wonderful message in it, and everyone struggles in their life from time to time. To me, that's very, very strong, and Christian as well.
And then of course we have the Irish songs, "O Danny Boy," "Galway Bay," and "Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears." We knew we were going to do a launch in the U.S. eventually, and we kind of wanted to have an Irish flavor for the U.S. market.
CT: What's it like to see Father Ray live?
Father Ray: (laughs) The live show is obviously me singing most of the time, but I do share a little of my story of where I came from before I was a priest, and about the "Hallelujah" thing, how that happened. I tell a few jokes, a few Irish jokes as well (laughs). Just sharing yourself, your personality, with people on stage, and hopefully people want that. Just being who you are.
Hopefully I will get to perform a concert in the U.S., and the album will carry the songs of God's heart to all that will hear. That's my wish really. A lot of the songs are prayerful as well on this album, and I hope that they will touch a chord with people. That's the important thing for me.
"Where I Belong" track list
1. Hallelujah
2. Everybody Hurts
3. Galway Bay
4. How Marvelous
5. Where I Belong
6. Together Forever
7. Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears
8. Tears in Heaven
9. O Danny Boy
10. Amazing Grace
Father Ray Kelly on the web:
www.facebook.com.com/fatherraykelly
