This is one of two songs in the collection, The Comforter, not written by Brian Boniwell. It was written by Michael Carter, about whom I can find nothing on the internet – happy to receive any and all information though.
I found a preview of Father Paul Gurr’s version on Apple Music.
I made a rockier version.
I’m still looking at the collection, The Comforter, which is best thought of as an out of print collection of Brian Boniwell songs from forty or so years ago.
This is chant so no backing from me for this one.
I can find no trace of a recording on the web either, so for completeness, and for those who would like to chant this lovely prayer, here is the sheet music:
This is an enigmatic song by Brian Boniwell from the collection The Comforter.
That’s fine, not everything has to be prosaic and obvious.
This is a nice find. It is a song by Brian Boniwell for the Procession of the Gifts. The range is only C to C this time so it is quite singable.
This one sounds like an amalgam of psalms.
In our current debased world I don’t think these words are very singable. For some reason I skipped it when doing the Praise to God parish hymn book, so I will include it here for completeness.
I looked at this song many years ago, because it was in a folder of copied songs from the parish at which I played. It had been heavily amended and had no attribution. I thought it was by Brian Boniwell, but only confirmed that recently when I aquired the sheet music to The Comforter collection.
It looks like a had made a backing in the early 2000s on the original Band in a Box for Windows 3.1, and had made it into a MIDI file, which I put through a cut down version of Protools years later and it still sounded odd.
This song is actually a folk style tune that would work for gathering if you feel OK singing in the voice of God.
I made a new, slightly more suitable backing:
This is a song for Eucharist by Brian Boniwell that was sung by Father Paul Gurr on his album, The Comforter.
It has a fair old range that is probably too much for an assembly. I’m racking my brain to figure out what song the descending triplets remind of but can’t place it.
I made two backings as the one with strings is a bit hard to follow.
Some time ago I came across a collection called, “The Comforter”, which consists mainly of songs by Brian Boniwell. It accompanied a cassette made by Father Paul Gurr in the 1980s.
I haven’t been able to find this sheet music available anywhere else and the collection is well out of print, which is a shame because the music deserves another look.
There is perhaps an influence from Psalm 132 in the text, which would need “O Lord” replacing “Yahweh” I suppose these days. It is a gentle song of praise and encouragement for private prayer, but in times of trial might even find a place in a liturgy.
Brian has kindly consented for the sheet music to be posted.
I made a couple of backings – I am happier with this one:
This one is a bit of a fail:
Father Gurr’s style is an acquired taste – as is mine as it happens:
This is a song Greg Scheimer sent me which, despite its title, was not written for this year’s Jubilee.
I’ll let him fill you in on its origins:
Hope of Pilgrims was written in 1966. It was called Pilgrim Song when Karen Corbett first sang it on my self-funded cassette titled Songs for a Pauper, a King and a Jester in 1981. You may recall Trish Watts sang Poorman’s Heart on that cassette. In its current form Hope of Pilgrims includes revised lyrics with a Trinitarian theme and is dedicated to the memory of all those who served the community of Holy Trinity Church Minto… To anyone wishing to use it in a liturgical celebration feel free to make all the copies of sheet music and lyrics you need without the usual liturgical copyright and royalty restrictions.
I love the easy walking style, and when Greg mentioned he was a banjo player I had to put some BIAB banjo in a backing:
1 Hope of pilgrims light the way
To the stars in the evening from the break of day.
Shine on dusty road and be our shelter in the night.
Your yoke is easy and your burden light, and your burden light.
Chorus
Loving Father, Son and Spirit,
Guide us with your healing hand throught the waters of salvation.
Breathe new life in all creation and take us to the promised land.
Take us to the promised land.
2 Lead us to the well that’ll quench all thirst
Where lost is found and last is first.
Living water of mercy brings our journey
To a land of ever lasting things, of ever lasting things.
Chorus
3 Foxes have holes and birds nest high
But you have no safe place to lie.
Cast your light in the darkest street
And be with us in every place we meet, in every place we meet.
Chorus
4 Pillar of cloud come guide the fold.
Burn among the brambles when the night is cold
And with your manna let our hearts be filled
And seek a place beyond the walls we build, beyond the walls we build.
Chorus
5 Give glory to the Father and You
And to the Spirit calling us to life anew.
Call every sibling and light the way
To be there in the morning at the break of day, at the break of day.
Chorus
© 2025 Greg Schiemer
He provided sheet music, a midi file and a recording:
After another well prepared and moving morning prayer, we were straight into Rita Ferrone’s second keynote, “Can Liturgy Change the World?” I found her exposition of the assembly’s self offering as participation in the Priesthood of Christ exercised in liturgy inspiring. The way liturgy can change the world is by ruling out toxic individualism and acknowledging that when when part of the Body of Christ suffers, we all suffer. She challenged us to avoid liturgy as personal therapy or consumerist. She see hope in the synodal approach with its emphasis on community, mission and belonging.
After another Morning Sing with Dr Anthony Young, we had the keynote from Rev Dr Richard Leornard SJ, entitled, “Anchored in Hope: Why Alleluia is our Song.” It was typically discursive and funny, but effectively landed the message that optimism and hope were very different outlooks. He deplored the falseness of the happiness industry and a society more isolated than ever despite greater technology for connection. The loss of meaning in people’s lives and youth suicide was highlighted. His reasons for hope in our Catholic faith included the number of professing Catholics in the world, perseverance despite the crises – ie not letting those who have failed children in the church make the decision that the church is no longer relevant and the the promise of Jesus to be with us. He noted that if St Paul, who murdered Christians, was accepted then no-one is beyong God’s love. He highlighted the evangelising tools of Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals and just being inviting. He described his approach as leaving who is saved to God rather than judging.
The rest of the sessions I attended had to do with youth matters, as I am interetsed in how the parish and schools can be more in sync.
Gen Bryant had a Mini- keynote, “Transforming Tomorrow’s Leaders – Call to Action for Mentors.” He encouraged us to see the gifts of young people, keep inviting their participation and accompany them when they need it.
Dr Anthony Young spoke from his experience within the school system. He complained of a siloed church: school vs parish. He suggested we could sing them together and gave examples of events that were often messy but enthusiastic and transforming. His advice was to be open and inviting, avoid turf wars and egos, encourage links with institutions and encourage singing groups rather than soloists – villages of musicians. He said we should be sharing repetoire across schools and churches especially leading up to major events.
Lauren Bierer spoke on “Building Bridges between Parish and School with Music.’ She reinforced the need for shared repetoire as school and parish have quite separate sources for liturgy, which is not helpful.
The last session before the closing prayer that I attended, was a panel looking at, “Meeting Young People Where They Are.” I was surprised that apart from the obvious answer, that they were at Catholic schools, they were at Adoration, EYM, YCW / social justice groups. It was suggested that as mass is a ritual for the initiated and since even Catholic students are essentially unchurched, a simpler ritual like adoration had appeal and lead to social interaction around that.
I find the conferences an encouragement to persist and a place to get insights and practical advice that is not generally available. I’m not sure we need two overseas keynote speakers, as the local keynotes were fine. Rita Ferrone was very impressive as a speaker and Ricky Manalo was engaging enough, but local speakers are the way to go for an Australian conference.
