| Reverend Father Michael Joncas | |
|---|---|
| Priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis | |
| Previous post(s) | Professor, University of St. Thomas Professor, St. Paul Seminary Professor, St. John's University |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 31, 1980 by John Roach |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1951-12-21) December 21, 1951 (age 73) |
| Occupation | Composer and Liturgist |
| Alma mater | Nazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary St. John Vianney Seminary University of Notre Dame Pontifical Liturgical Institute |
Jan Michael Joncas (born December 21, 1951) is a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, liturgical theologian, and composer of contemporary Catholic music best known for his hymn "On Eagle's Wings".
Biography
Joncas was raised in Minneapolis, of Polish descent, attending Nazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary and St. John Vianney Seminary at the University of St. Thomas, earning a bachelor's degree in English there in 1975.
Joncas composed the hymn he is best known for, "On Eagle's Wings", following the death of a friend's father in the late 1970s. It has since been quoted by Joe Biden and covered by Lana Del Rey.
He received a Master of Arts degree in liturgy from the University of Notre Dame in 1978 and went on to study at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome, earning both his licentiate and doctorate degrees there. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 31, 1980, by Archbishop John Roach. Following this, he taught at the University of St. Thomas, at the University of Notre Dame, and summer courses at the Saint John's School of Theology, also serving as a weekend assistant at parishes throughout the Archdiocese.
In 2003, Joncas was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome after noticing he lacked the strength to elevate the chalice at Mass. The residual effects of the disorder still prevent him from playing guitar, the instrument on which he composed "On Eagle's Wings".
In 2022, Joncas retired from active ministry and teaching but intends to keep writing music.
Discography
- Singing In the Light (1968)
- On Eagles' Wings (1979; featuring "On Eagle's Wings")
- Every Stone Shall Cry
- Here In Our Midst
- O Joyful Light
- I Have Loved You
- Praise God in Song
- No Greater Love Mass
- Winter Name of God (1988)
- God of Life and of the Living
- Sing Praise and Thanksgiving
- Come to Me
- Mass for John Carroll
- Psallite Mass
- We Come to Your Feast
- A Voice Cries Out
- As the Deer
- God of Life Be Praised
- In the Sight of Angels (2008)
- Christ Be Near (2009)
- Shelter Me (2020)
Published works
- Preaching the Rites of Christian Initiation, Forum Essays 4 (Chicago, IL: Liturgy Training Publications, 1994).
- The Catechism of the Catholic Church on Liturgy and Sacraments (San Jose, CA: Resource Publications, 1995).
- From Sacred Song to Ritual Music: Twentieth Century Understandings of Roman Catholic Worship Music (Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1997).
- Co-author with Fr. Michael Driscoll, The Order of Mass: A Roman Missal Study Edition and Workbook (Chicago, IL: Liturgy Training Publications, 2011).
- Within Our Hearts Be Born. The Michael Joncas Hymnary: Advent and Christmas (Portland, OR: Oregon Catholic Press, 2013)
- We Contemplate the Mystery.The Michael Joncas Hymnary: Lent and Triduum (Portland, OR: Oregon Catholic Press, 2015).
See also
References
- ^ Lawson, Paul (June 1980). "SJV Alumni Ordained". Memorandum, Saint Paul Seminary. p. 2. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
Ten St. John Vianney Seminary graduates of St. Thomas were ordained priests on May 31 in the St. Paul Cathedral. They were among 13 ordained by Archbishop John R. Roach. The alumni are the Rev. Messrs. John J. Bussmann, Dennis Dempsey, Joseph T. For- celle, Jan Michael Joncas, Joseph F. Kennedy, Thomas M. Kommers, Kevin McDonough, Kenneth Leo O'Hotto, John F. Sowada, and Michael John Stevens.
- The American Organist. American Guild of Organists. 2009.
- "Michael Joncas". OCP. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
Best known for popular songs like "On Eagle's Wings" and "I Have Loved You," Father Joncas is also a supremely gifted choral composer.
- ^ Mischke, Dale (2021-12-22). "Singing the Lord's praises: Father Joncas looks back on his career". MyVillager. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
- ^ Winterer '71, Jim. "When Thoughts are all you Have Left". Newsroom | University of St. Thomas. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - Subramanian, Courtney. "Biden's faith comes through in speech, quoting Catholic hymn and Bible verse". USA Today. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
- Neale, Matthew (November 8, 2020). "Lana Del Rey covers 'On Eagle's Wings' in tribute to Biden victory". NME. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ^ "Fr. Jan Michael Joncas | Theology". cas.stthomas.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
- "Catholic Studies | College of Arts and Sciences | University of St. Thomas".
- ^ Spirit, The Catholic (2022-09-16). "Seven recently retired priests look back — and ahead". TheCatholicSpirit.com. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
- ""On Eagle's Wings": The simple origin of the song that makes the world cry". America Magazine. 2017-12-28. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
External links
- Oregon Catholic Press: Artists & Events: Artists: Michael Joncas (biography)
- GIA Publications: J. Michael Joncas (biography)
- University of St. Thomas: Faculty: Rev. Jan Michael Joncas (biography)
- Michael Joncas at AllMusic
- Jan Michael Joncas at AllMusic
