Nun leads Catholic mass with modern music, Adelaide

1972 - Sister Janet - the swinging nun. every Sunday, sister Janet packs them in to St. Francis Xavier's cathedral. Adelaide Australia with her singing. eleven months ago sister Janet was given permission by the church to bring an a band, put the 1900- year -old Catholic mass to music, and let the young worship in their own way. The experiment, despite criticism by sceptics inside and outside the church, was a success. the singing nun and the sounds of music packed them in 2000 at a time - and now the cathedral is not big enough - hundreds cannot get inside. but the young nun dislikes the sister Janet - superstar tag. We are not there to entertain she says. The idea is to let 2000 people actively participate in the mass through music, very few come just to listen to the music, some might come for that in the first place, but they stay to worship. Many of the churchgoers are long-haired, and dressed in the jeans- and sweater uniform of the younger set. But about 40 per cent of the congregation are oldies, businessmen and their families, the middle-aged and a sprinkling of grandmas and grandpas. The nun who brought the counter culture to church is a teacher at St. Aloysius convent of Morey, a classical pianist and a graduate from Adelaide conservatoire of music. She organises the musical format of the mass with the help of up to 30 young writers, musicians and singers, then grabs the microphone and leads the congregation in her own brand of hymns, some straight from the hit parade. photo shows Sister Jane socks it to the congregation in the cathedral. (Credit Image: (c) Keystone Pictures USA/ZUMAPRESS.com/Mary Evans)

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