The Cathedral Chimes
Vol 65, No. 3
September 2009
Keeping Up With Cathedral Alum Stephen Tefft
“I was lucky because Saint Cecilia Cathedral was a stellar school. So many around the world are not as lucky, because Catholic schools have not always educated strongly about the faith.” And so began a recent conversation with Cathedral alumni, Stephen Tefft, a man on a mission about the Catholic faith.
Stephen graduated from Saint Cecilia Grade School in 1983 and from Cathedral High School in 1987. He recalls that in high school there were lessons about the crusades and the inquisition, but he questioned why there was not more information about “the Good News,” he added with an excited tone in his voice. “My family and my school were helping to build a strong base for my faith, but I kept asking for more.” He always questioned the priests here at Cathedral about his faith, as he felt there was more to learn beyond what he was felt was seeping in from Mass on Sunday and once a week at school. He recalls that the Dominican nuns were a strong visible witness to the faith. “To this day, whenever I see nuns and priests around the city, I thank them for their willingness to be a visible witness to the Lord. I mean, how many people walk around the world in their daily lives, wearing clothes that immediately declare their love for Christ. It’s an incredible testimony.”
Stephen is a self taught musician, playing guitar, bass, a little mandolin, harmonica, and percussion. He fondly recalled Sr. Marie Juan Maney who allowed him to be in the all-city Catholic boy’s choir. “I wasn’t old enough, but she put me in group with older kids because she knew I could sing. She was the first one to recognize my singing talent.” He recalled that Sr. Mary Ellen invited him to be a cantor at Mass, so he and his sister Sue joined the small guitar group, even though he was only in 5th grade and his sister was in 7th grade. “Those two teachers were the ones who really started me thinking that I had a gift that could be shared,” said Stephen.
Stephen’s band experience started in the mind 1990’s. At a retreat he met James Seeburger, another musician from whom he learned to write music. They hit it off, and formed a band called “The Lost Sheep.” Stephen recalled their first open microphone night. “We were really bad,” he said as he rolled his eyes, “But the guy who hosted the event came up to me and told me that I needed to keep doing this and keep trying. He said I had a unique ability.” The band membership kept changing and eventually Stephen started a band with his sister and another friend, and they did more ‘open mic’ nights. He kept trying and kept writing music that might appeal to a broader base.
Then in 1999, he was contacted by a national moderator for Pro-Sanctity, who knew that Stephen wrote music. For the first time, Stephen read the writings of the founder of Pro-Sanctity, Bishop Guglielmo Giaquinta, and it struck a chord. “His writings and prayers were from the heart. The words were about how he felt about God and his faith.” Stephen was so swept away that he was able to write several songs fairly quickly based on Bishop Giaquinta’s words. This led to his next band “Cor Sanctum” and the opportunity for a recording session.
Cor Sanctum was invited to perform in Rome for Pro Sanctity’s 59th Anniversary in 2000. Stephen wrote new music to get the words of Bishop Giaquinta out to everyone. As they waited and waited for their turn to sing, other singers stepped up, and their group was pushed later in the day. The crowds dwindled and the band wondered when they would have their time to play. Finally they did play before a small crowd but it was not what they had hoped for, not the numbers, and not even an English speaking crowd. As they walked across Vatican Square, feeling a little disappointed, rain began to fall. The band, along with hundreds of others, rushed for shelter under a Portico. The Cor Sanctum members realized they had an audience, albeit a chatty one, hiding from the rain. They pulled out their instruments and their music and began to play. The crowd stilled, and pressed in toward the musicians to hear them. More people joined the crowd under the Portico, as the music filtered out through the rain drops across Vatican square. Everyone listened to the message. Stephen’s face was glowing as relayed the way he felt at that moment. “God gave us a venue and said SING!”
They also were asked to sing in Bohn, Germany for World Youth Day. The Pro Sanctity America group was trapped in a bus station, missed the big groups to perform for, and played for a small group from Latvia. “It was late in the day, the crowd was thin, and they had already spent most of their money with earlier groups. We had little hope of selling any Cor Sanctum CD’s or t-shirts. So we made the decision to give away our CD’s and t-shirts. Everyone left with something, and we had a lot less luggage to carry back,” Stephen added. However there was some growing frustration. “I guess this is what is called “paying the dues.” “I always try to remember that I do this for God. I can’t think in terms of budget or schedule. You have to give, you have to pour it out,” he said. He quickly followed up, “I talk a good game. Living it is harder. It’s concupiscence, our proclivity to sin that lives within us. I wrote a song, just so I could use that word. The song is called Fallen.”
Stephen views music as a powerful art. “It literally gets into your skin. Praise music is tough because there is a tendency to emulate what is popular, and what is popular in rhythm may not be the right message. I want to go beneath the surface with music because Catholicism is not a surface level religion.” He quickly added, “I don’t care what is popular. I write what I like and I write what means something to me, and the Holy Spirit moves as it will.” He has learned to see outside of himself, saying “This is just God dragging me along in spite of my reluctance,” grinning as the words came out.
One of Stephen’s biggest fans and a good friend is Fr. Carl Zoucha, with a friendship going back before Fr. Zoucha was in the seminary. “I met this gifted musician at a retreat, and he would stay up all night composing songs that proclaim the Good News. I’ve been witness to hundreds of his songs being played for the first time,” said Fr. Zoucha. “He’s just an ordinary guy, so unassuming, and all this music is in his heart. He makes beautiful music for the Lord, has written 1000 songs about his love for the Lord, and I pray the right doors will open for him.”
Stephen is married to Nancy Latimer Tefft, a former seventh and eighth grade teacher at Saint Cecilia Grade School. They have been married four years, and have two little boys, Simon, age 3 and Billy, age 2. Nancy said there are times when Stephen will write and record music all night. He can compose and add all the instruments with his program in the basement recording studio. “He’ll have dinner with us, then I’ll put the boys to bed, and I’ll see him the next morning as he comes upstairs saying ‘I finished the song.” She was quick to add that his work has evolved and changed even over their four years of marriage. “His creativity has blossomed and the expression of his music has grown. He really gives himself to a project.”
Stephen admits that the musical journey is a joy and a challenge. However, he remembers that he learned three lessons growing up: 1) Life isn’t always fair, 2) Give your gifts back to God, and 3) The meek shall inherit the earth. “I’m still waiting on the last one,” he said with a sheepish grin. “The prayer of my heart is that we all know that we are loved by God. It’s universal, and we can all help each other get to heaven.”
article by Beth Klug… reprinted with permission
The Catholic Voice — June 19, 2009
Singer to release solo project
Stephen Tefft, lead singer for the Catholic band Cor Sanctum, will debut his first major release in four years at a CD release party June 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Adoremus Books, 2992 S. 84th St. in Omaha.
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The Catholic Voice
February 20, 2009 |
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National Catholic Register
May 1-7, 2005
Volume 81 No. 18
“Their Long and Winding Road Leads to Cologne”
When World Youth Day 2002 wrapped up in Toronto, the members of the Catholic band Cor Sanctum kidded themselves about “how great it would be to play” at the next one, according to guitarist-vocalist Stephen Tefft.
They figured themselves a longshot. But this summer, the trio’s wishful thinking will materialize into reality: They’ve been invited to perform at World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, Germany, the third week in August.
Founded in 1999 and based in Omaha, Nebraska, the group — whose other members are Jennifer Gaddie (vocals) and Rick Smith (percussion) — plays folk-inflected praise and worship music in a number of genres. Register correspondent Iain Bernhoft spoke with the band; here are excerpts from his conversation with Tefft.
Congratulations on being selected to play at World Youth Day 2005. How did it come about?
Jen was the one who made us look into it seriously. We had Rick e-mail [the organizers] once a month. “Send Cds,” they finally said. He kept e-mailing them and they told us we’d made the first cut, when they pared the field down to 200 bands. (There were originally 600). At last they told us we were in.
What will you play — liturgical music? Concerts?
The program says they have concerts in the park, so we think we might be playing those. “Details will follow,” they tell us. We just have to get funds for it. We sent out an e-mail to friends and supporters seeking donations and I was able to post it on some Catholic weblogs.
How hard is it for a Catholic band to find an audience?
Part of the problem is that we don’t have any background in publicizing or promoting, so we’re still learning. But we’re slowly gaining a following; if we get people to hear us, they become very enthusiastic and supportive.
Catholics are 10 years behind Protestants in praise music. We’re at the very beginning of it and progress is being made. There’s the Catholic Music Network (and the United Catholic Music and Video Association) and many talented musicians are competing for spots. But it’s difficult to get in touch wit h people. For ourselves, we’ve been invited to school programs, and we went to a Catholic conference in Albuquerque. Through Pro Sanctity, we’ve provided music for many parish missions and retreats.
You have close connections to Pro Sanctity. Can you briefly explain what it is?
It’s an international lay movement founded by Bishop Guglielmo Giaquinta in Italy in 1947. It promotes holiness in our daily lives and spreads the writings of John Paul II. I’ve been a member for 15 years and it’s been a huge help in my formation. Bishop Giaquinta’s writings have had a huge impact on me; when I was asked to write music for them, I studied them closely and was absolutely overwhelmed. (For more, go to prosanctity.org on the Internet.)
Is the music central to the Pro Sanctity Movement?
Not central, but important. Bishop Giaquinta was a musician and a songwriter himself. He understood the power music has to bring us to deeper levels of understanding. He was always seeking new ways to promote the faith, and he had a dream of integrating music with his words.
Aside from Bishop Giaquinta, what are your other major spiritual influences?
The Pslams, and Scripture in general. The prayers of the saints are also particularly important. I look for personally touching prayes. I figure, if they’ve touched me, they might have a similar effect on other people.
And who are some of your major musical influences?
My grandfather was my main musical influence. He was a self-taught musician, and he could play for hours. I love bluegrass and folk, Paul Simon, Rich Mullins. Jen’s harmonies are from the Kingston Trio and the Everly Brothers. I didn’t grow up with much faith music, but I did sing a lot of old hymns.
You are very active in the music at you local parishes. To what extent is liturgical music a part of your repertoire?
We want to help people glorify God through music, and Mass is the perfect place for that. But we’re the first to admit that a lot of our music isn’t or shouldn’t be Mass music. I tend to think that my music isn’t yet worthy of being Mass music.
What do you mean “not worthy”?
Mass music has to have a certain simplicity, but it also has to have a sense of majesty and timelessness. Hopefully, I’ll grow enough in my abilities to write more for Mass.
What role do you think music can play in people’s spiritual lives?
Pope Benedict XVI has written that music touches us on deeper levels, because it touches the psyche and spirit. We have to be careful, because it can affect us deeply and we don’t realize that we’re absorbing the message. I work really hard to stay close to Catholic teaching in my lyrics. We know several terrific priests who help me with that. We fashioned our lasted CD as a prayer hour, and we hope it will lead people to a deeper level of contemplation.
Have you seen your music have a direct effect on people?
I think the best compliment I’ve gotten was from someone who told me that listening to our music helped him understand tough theological issues a little better. Also, at a discernment retreat, our song “Are You Listening” brought many people to tears.
A cynic could attribute that to a passing “emotional rush.” Can music have a more lasting effect as well?
As humans, we tend toward complacency. We have to concentate constantly on growing closer to God. A good melody sticks in your head and bring its words back to you throughout the day. Depending on the message, it can bring you closer to God the whole day.
Beyond enriching and reinforcing the faith, do you think that music can, by itself, really be a tool for evangelization?
People don’t realize how powerful music is. If the music is good enough to touch people’s hearts, the message can still get in their heads. Also, with “apologetics through music,” the message can be said in a new way; maybe people will be able to understand it better.
Beyond the upcoming World Youth Day, what’s in the future for Cor Sanctum?
It’s all up to God’s will. Our goal right now is to raise enough money to get to Germany. In this time of spiritual craziness, people so often take the minimalist approach to life. But we need to give God what Bishop Giaquinta calls the “maximal response.” We want to get people to look and think about the music that they listen to.
Iain Bernhoft writes from Spokane Washington.
Reprinted with permission.
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