Congratulations! Donald Willard, C.Ss.R. was ordained to the Redemptorist priesthood on June 8, 2008, at St. Michael's Redemptorist Catholic Church in Chicago, IL. The Most Rev. Gerard Pettipas, C.Ss.R., archbishop of Grouard-McLennan, Alberta, Canada, presided. Don was ordained a deacon on December 12, 2007, also at St. Michael's. Please pray for Fr. Don and all of our students in the seminary.

'American Idol' House Band Member Makes 'Saintly' Music
L.A. Session Player Introduces the Music of St. Alphonsus Liguori to America

DENVER...April 28, 2008 ... For over 20 years, Grammy-award winning musician Ray Herrmann has been performing, recording and arranging music for some of the biggest names in American music: LeAnn Rimes, Whitney Houston, Christine Aguilera, Bob Dylan, Santana, Herbie Hancock, and George Benson; he's appeared on The Tonight Show, The Late Show, and numerous TV specials. Ray can be heard on over 100 motion picture soundtracks (Shrek, e.g.); he's recorded countless albums with pop and jazz greats; and he was a regular with the Brian Setzer Orchestra.

Ray's also a member of the house band on the television show, American Idol. He can always be seen playing his saxophone in his trademark red shirt. This summer Ray will be touring the United States and Europe with the '70s rock band, Chicago, playing his saxophones and his flute. (www.rayherrmann.com)

Ray started playing the piano when he was six and the clarinet a year later. He earned his master's degree in music from the University of North Texas. Ray is proficient on all woodwind instruments and is considered one of the finest musicians around. Two years ago, he co-founded along with his wife, Theresa, Little Lamb Music, a company dedicated to composing and producing Catholic music for families and their children. In July of last year, Ray teamed up with the Redemptorists, one of the world's largest congregations of Catholic priests and brothers, to produce a music CD unlike anything produced before for the Catholic market.

"Praying the Rosary with St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori" is the first rosary CD ever to feature the music of a saint. Founder of the Redemptorists and a Doctor of the Church, St. Alphonsus Liguori's music has never been heard before in this country. Only through this CD and others produced by Ray will Americans be able to hear for the first time the glorious compositions of St. Alphonsus Liguori.

Because of his name and reputation, Ray has been able to gather some of the finest musicians and choral performers to participate on these recordings, including members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

The next CD, "Praying the Seven Sorrows of Mary with St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori," featuring Fr. Pablo Straub of EWTN fame, will be released on June 27, the feast day of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. The featured work on this CD, "To Jesus in His Passion," is St. Alphonsus' most poignant and sorrowful hymn.

Excerpts from the Rosary CD can be heard on both the Redemptorist and Little Lamb Music websites.

To order the CDs, call Little Lamb Music at 1-800-231-1207 or 1-805-492-5302 or visit its website at www.littlelambmusic.com.