Priest’s CD will benefit kids’ agency

The Dallas Post // News

October 25

By REBECCA BRIA rbria@timesleader.com

The Rev. James Paisley’s parishioners have always suggested he record his Christmas homilies.

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The Rev. James Paisley has recently produced a CD of his songs at the urging of parishioners at St. Terese’s Church, Shavertown. Sales of the CD will benefit the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association.

Charlotte Bartizek/ For The Dallas Post

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After singing his Christmas homilies for more than two decades, the Rev. Paisley, pastor of St. Therese’s Roman Catholic Church in Shavertown, released his CD titled “My Grown Up Christmas Wish” on Oct. 19. The CD is his first solo album and is comprised of songs and reflections for Christmas.

“I sing my Christmas homily,” the Rev. Paisley said. “I’ve been doing that for 24 years ever since I was ordained. After I would sing my homily, many people would say, ‘Boy, Father, I really enjoyed that. You should record that.’”

The CD contains 10 songs including “Believe,” by Josh Groban, from the movie “Polar Express”; “Breath of Heaven” and “My Grown Up Christmas List,” both by Amy Grant; “A Baby Changes Everything,” by Faith Hill; “A Soldier’s King,” artist unknown; “Joseph’s Lullaby;” “One Bright Star”; “Family,” artist unknown; “Holy is His Name,” by John Michael Talbot; and “Thankful,” by Josh Groban.

Spoken words of reflection by the Rev. Paisley are featured over piano music as lead-ins to five of the 10 songs. Kathy Elgaway is the pianist on the CD.

“The purpose of the CD is to get people in a reflective Christmas mood,” the Rev. Paisley said.

All proceeds from the CD will benefit the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association in Forty Fort. The local non-profit agency’s primary mission is to provide therapy and early childhood education for children ages 5 and under who demonstrate developmental and neurological disabilities, as well as preschool education for children of all abilities.

“I think it’s a wonderful thing that someone would take the initiative to produce such a thing and then go looking for a children’s charity for it to benefit,” said Kim Rollman, marketing and special events director for the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association. “…Although it’s songs and reflections and it is religiously based, I think it could hit a cross section of people and not just the religious community.”

Ed Stanks Jr., of Shavertown, is treasurer of the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association board of directors. He is also a member of St. Therese’s Church where he is on the finance committee and is a member of the choir.

“He has a great voice and every Christmas he always sings his homily and he’ll also do that for Good Friday,” Stanks said of the Rev. Paisley. “It’s really inspiring to hear that. The first year he was there, we were kind of taken aback by it. To pick us as the children’s association was fantastic. I really admire him doing that, it makes me proud as a parishioner of St. Therese’s.”

Besides being a vocalist, the Rev. Paisley is also a member of the Sweet Charity Players, an actor’s group that helps families of ill children with medical and travel expenses as well as to fulfill wishes. He also plays the autoharp.

The Rev. Paisley chose the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association as the benefactor to his CD sales after searching for a non-profit organization that could use help. The priest toured the association’s Forty Fort facility and says he was “hooked.”

“My Grown Up Christmas Wish” debuted on Oct. 17 at the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association’s 85th anniversary dinner at the Westmoreland Club. The Rev. Paisley sang “Believe” to attendees at the dinner and asked for their assistance in purchasing the CD.

“They were very supportive and I got a little bold afterwards in a good way because I’m not comfortable asking for money unless the cause is really exceptional,” the Rev. Paisley said. “I said, ‘I’m going to be bold about this and I’m going to tell you I don’t want any of the CDs left in this room at the end of the night.’”

Rollman says 58 copies of the CD were sold at the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association dinner. In addition, the Rev. Paisley says well over 100 copies of his CD were sold after Mass on Oct. 18.

“We’re shooting for a lot more than that,” the Rev. Paisley said.

“My Grown Up Christmas Wish” may be purchased for $12 now through the holiday season at the following locations: Wyoming Valley Children’s Association, Forty Fort (call ahead to 714-1246); Joe Nardone’s Gallery of Sound stores, various locations; The Guild Store, Scranton; Sunshine Market, Plains Township; St. Therese’s Church and rectory, Shavertown; Francine Paisley Beauty Shop, Hazleton; Thomas’ Foodtown, Shavertown; and Thomas’ SuperFoodtown, Dallas.

The CD will also be for sale on Nov. 8 at Barnes & Noble in downtown Wilkes-Barre. The Rev. Paisley will be at the store from 4 to 5 p.m. for a CD signing.

The Rev. Paisley will also make an appearance on the “Our Faith, Our Diocese” program on Catholic Television of the Diocese of Scranton to discuss his CD at 4 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26 and at 9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29.