November 26, 2010
Review
St. John the Baptist Church, Vincennes, has a live choir of angels
St. John folk group members include, front row, Karen Turner, Terrie Schutter and Sara Bilskie, top row, Mark Kleuh, John Faulkener, Richard Faulkner and Kurt Seger. Not pictured is Michelle Schutter. Click for a larger version.
By KRISTY CARDINAL (Special to the Message)
Do you often find yourself looking for a way to enhance your spiritual mood?
St. John the Baptist Church has just what you are looking for. The city of Vincennes is blessed to have the harmonious and angelic sound of the St. John’s Folk Group.
The folk group was first established in 1990. This year the group is celebrating their twentieth anniversary. The original members of the folk group started playing together and participating during Mass, special services at their home parish, as well as other organizations. The original members that created the group are Richard Faulkner, Mark Klueh, Kurt Seger and Terrie Schutter.
The popularity of the group grew rapidly. The sound of the folk group during Mass leaves you with goose bumps and a feeling of God racing through the soul.
The folk group currently consists of eight members: Kurt Seger, John Faulkner, Richard Faulkner, Mark Klueh, Sara Bilskie, Karen Turner, Terrie Schutter and Michelle Schutter. The members are from different Catholic parishes in Knox County.
The group plays at St. John’s bi-weekly on Saturday nights. They gather on Thursday evenings to practice original and new music. Instruments played by the members are acoustic guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, flute, harmonica and percussion.
“The talented group has five musicians that can play and read music,” stated Richard Faulkner. Faulkner is a key member of the group and an original member. “We experiment with music and see what works for us. We don’t stop trying until we are all pleased with the music selection and sound,” he said.
Faulkner describes the close bond that the group has and refers to the members as his extended family. The group is full of passion and enjoys mixing up tunes, practicing music for the next performance, and, most of all, playing music from the good days! One of their favorites during break time is “Where oh where can my baby be?”
Mark Klueh keeps the practices interesting and alive. There is never silence in between the transition of songs or tuning of instruments. While others are preparing for the next selection, Klueh makes sure there is no dead silence by breaking out with classic “Beatles” music.
Terrie Schutter addition to the group includes playing the keyboard and flute. Schutter talks about the fun weekly practices and how the group sometimes gets off the original music. “That is why our practices start at 7 p.m. and don’t end until 10 p.m.,” whispered Terrie Schutter. “We are dog tired from the long day at work, but gathering together for practice makes all our worries leave.”
John Faulkner, guitarist, des-cribes he reason for being a part of the group, “We just have fun.” John enjoys participating with the group at all the different events and socializing with the members.
The folk group entertains at several different events throughout the year. This past October, the group participated in a concert to raise money for the Catholic Education Foundation in Vincennes. Each year, the group sings for the Knights of Columbus’s Light Up for Christ, held in Vincennes. This will be held the first week of December. The Light up for Christ allows the group to introduce their Christmas songs.
Among memorable events in past years, the group appeared with Cardinal Francis George of Chicago at The Centre in Evansville. Cardinal George was the featured speaker on capital punishment, part of an educational series sponsored by the Diocese of Evansville.
It is very hard to get individual time with the cardinal, Falkner said, since he allows only 10 minutes for “meet and greet.”
“I was so excited to meet the cardinal and shake his hand. I was sure I had enough time to go and wash my hands. I came back to join the group to only find out I had missed him,” laughed Faulkner.
Klueh’s memorable appearances includes a performance at Loogootee for a church picnic, Merom Bluff picnic and fundraiser, cancer quarterly meeting in Jasper and the celebration of life for the late Fa-ther Braun in Wendelin, Ill. He said the group has also performed for various Relay for Life events. The Folk Group was very enthusiastic about performing at The Centre in Evansville for a “Day of Discipleship,” expressed Klueh.
The folk group keeps a tight schedule. They have produced four albums that help with the funding of the group. “We use the profits to buy new microphones, equipment or shirts for the group, Faulkner explained.” The group sent a CD to Pope John Paul II and received a medal in the mail.
The recently released album of St. John’s Folk Group consists of religious music and is entitled “You Can Tell the World.” The album offers 18 traditional and contemporary songs of worship, blending vocals and instruments. Previous releases were “One in Spirit,” “Blessed be the Lord,” and “Our Christ-ian Prayer.”
“You Can Tell the World” is available from any folk group member, the St. John Rectory in Vincennes, Integra Bank in Vincennes, or the following Vincennes specialty stores: Offer-ings, the Bible Book Store and Something Special.
The CDs are also available at Sonshine Christian Bookstore in Princeton, Touch of Heaven in Washington, Abbey Press Book-store in St. Meinrad and The Cornerstone in Evansville. The cost per CD is $12, with an additional $2.50 if postage and handling are required.
For more information on the Folk Group or to book an ap-pearance contact: Richard Faulkner 812-882-4824, or Mark Klueh 812-992-9100.