Christian Rock Concert on Sunday at St. Linus

The public is invited to a Christian Rock concert at St. Linus Church given by area teens in response to popular demand.

Seventeen year old pianist, songwriter and composer Phil Caffee,  will direct Voices of Faith, an ecumenical group of enthusiastic Oak Lawn teens, in a free will concert at 7 p.m. Sunday evening, June 26, at St. Linus Church,  10300 S. Lawler Ave.

Both traditional and contemporary Christian rock songs, including some of Caffee’s originals  from his CD I Want to Shine Bright for Christ, I Need You, Reach For You, Walk for You, will be featured.  

This concert  is a celebration of their success and that of  Caffee’s  commitment and growth in his ministry before he leaves for college in the fall.   

He began playing piano in first grade and has been at the keyboard ever since. He masters a wide range of music, but his personal style reflects the melodies of country and southern gospel that filled his home as a child.

Caffee confessed that he was not always forthright in sharing his talent. He recalls the turning point came when he was in the third grade and was reluctant to join the St. Linus School Spirit Choir fearing “it would not be cool.”

 Fortunately his thinking changed, and been at it he has!

A lifelong parishioner of St. Linus Parish and recent graduate of Brother Rice High School, Caffee has cheerfully and generously donated his talents. In addition to the youth choir, he became  a cantor and accompanist for parish Masses while still in grade school, later joining the St. Linus Adult choir.

A few years ago, he asked St. Linus Music Director Linda Gervain if he could play some Southern Gospel music at a Sunday Mass.

In 2009, and with her support and that of pastor Fr. William Corcoran , he and a group of friends decided “to just sing and make it happen.”

Voices of Faith began under Phil’s direction. Their sound was very well received and their music is frequently included in the range of music style the parish offers at its various liturgies.

He is often requested to play and sing for funerals and weddings and is a  regular accompanist at  St. Walter,  St. Germaine and at the teen masses at Our Lady of the Ridge.

At St. Catherine’s Parish, he also works with their teen choir and youth group.

In his true ecumenical spirit, Phil and the group also play at Oak Lawn’s Presbyterian Church and at the annual Oak Lawn Clergy Association’s Annual Prayer Service.

Those performing Sunday are Colin, Matthew and  Julie Allpow, all of St. Germaine Parish, Gianfranco Calafiore, of St. Linus Parish, Aaron Du Puy, of Oak Lawn Presbyterian , Tim Geraghty, of St. Linus,  Rose Kloese, of  Oak Lawn Presbyterian, Allison and Kristen Nazorek, both of St. Linus, and  Alyssa Straits, of St. Linus.

In the fall, Caffee will be attending Olivet Nazarene College in Kankakee, where he will be majoring in Youth Ministry. On alternating weekends, he will be returning to the Oak Lawn area to keep commitments he has made to parishes requesting his services.

This is a free will concert.  A strong portion of donations will be sent to build a water well in Africa.

This charity was chosen because of the need but also its symbolism. “Water gives life,  just as our music can promote our faith in Christ giving us eternal life,” he said.