Being the Court Jester For Giants
Right now I am in the midst of preparation for being the central entertainment for a formal event in Tuscon, AZ. The Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Tucson is hosting their 29th Annual Cornerstone Gala, for which they will be honoring permanent deacons and also Angel Charity For Children, an ecumenical group that raises money for assisting organizations that help children.
New Parody Songs
I am currently having a blast in preparation. I am crafting two parody songs, one of which is a parody of Juice Newton’s cover of “Angel of the Morning,” to honor the second group. For permanent deacons, I am stringing together three parody songs all based on three of the most familiar songs from The Who’s catalog. These songs being, “Behind Blue Eyes”, “Pinball Wizard”, and “I’m Free.”
If you are a permanent deacon, or if you work with children, please respond to this and let me know; I humbly ask for feedback on my new parody songs.
I have also revisited my own catalog and am expanding upon some of my favorite parodies, while also reintroducing some which may have become forgotten over time. “Our Mass” is a song perfect for an event like this, even though I suspect many in the audience may not be familiar with the original song from the 80s new wave/ska band “Madness.” I haven’t used that song in over a decade, and yet it feels nicely appropriate for the evening.
Honoring Permanent Deacons
In the process, it has given me a greater appreciation for both permanent deacons, and those who work tirelessly for children. I am fascinated by the permanent diaconate, and the levels of sacrifice that a person called to this level of service entails. Such a person must balance his church duties (often which he assists the priest, and nothing else) with his family life and day job. Sometimes he is called to serve others, like taking communion to nursing homes and shut-ins, or serve at a soup kitchen. They are committed to praying with the Church, that is, praying the Divine Office, on a daily basis.
And they do this all without any pay.
Angel Charity for Children
As for Angel Charity For Children, Inc., in short, they raise money to help improve the lives of children in Pima County, AZ. Past funds have gone to children’s facilities in clinics of low-income areas, schools, youth clubs, and even the Girl Scouts.
This group is run entirely on volunteers, and 100% of all donations go directly to their benefactors. That’s unprecedented.
A Court Jester Among Giants
So I am honored to be the entertainment for this special dinner. But I feel like a court jester amongst giants. These individuals are the true main event, they are the ones deserving of honor and focus.
In the meantime, I intend to take a permanent deacon for lunch, and thank him for his service to the Church.
The Cornerstone Gala will take place on Friday, May 1, at the J.W. Marriott Starr Pass Resort, in Tucson, AZ. Contact Clara Moreno (cmoreno@diocesetucson.org) if you still want tickets.
If you are a permanent deacon, or if you work with children, please respond to this and let me know; I humbly ask for feedback on my new parody songs.