In the interest of promptly communicating, I thought I would respond widely online to some of the many kind inquiries I’ve received since the Detroit and USCCB Eucharistic Revival Hymn Competition results were announced. I was graced to win the “hymn text” portions of both of those contests.
Some folks have asked whether they can use one or the other of the texts.
- The USCCB text will be made freely available at some point in the near future.
- The Detroit text, God Our Father, Ever Dwelling, is free to use within the Archdiocese of Detroit until Pentecost of 2025. For others, I am happy to make it available on a pay-as-you-can basis. Anyone can use the hymn until Pentecost of 2025; however, for those who work outside the Archdiocese of Detroit, please pay a fee via Paypal, kpluth@gmail.com. I would suggest $20 for the average parish/school. A parish of means might contribute more, and a small parish can feel free to pay less. The attribution line Winner of the 2023 Archdiocese of Detroit Hymn Composition Contest for the Eucharistic Revival must be included, at the request of the Archdiocese.
Please send a message to the same address with any inquiries about commissions.
I’ve also received very gracious inquiries about potential collaborations. I am excited about the possibility of working with composers, and have already begun doing so in a very exciting way. If anyone is interested in setting a fresh new text, please feel free to send me a DM and we can go forward with a hymn that you like from among my unpublished texts.
Please do not set the Detroit hymn with the hope of publishing a setting, however.
Lastly, I’d like to point to the places you can find my work already. I am the Hymn Consultant for Word on Fire’s Liturgy of the Hours monthly. There you can find my editorial decisions about hymns, such as selection of hymns and text editing. The monthly Magnificat usually prints 3 or so of my original texts or translations. And I have two collections already published, one of original texts, Hymns for the Liturgical Year, and one of Entrance Antiphons reworked to fit Long Meter tunes, Hymn Tune Introits: Singing the Sundays of the Liturgical Year.
I’m very honored by both the contest results and by the generous interest that has resulted. It’s a beautiful Church full of wonderful musicians, and I’m really happy to be able to contribute in this small way.
God Our Father, Ever Dwelling
Winner of the 2023 Archdiocese of Detroit Hymn Composition Contest for the Eucharistic Revival
God our Father, ever dwelling
In Your realm of love and light,
Bending down to lift creation
By Your endless power and might,
Thank You for Your greatest blessing
Over all the earth outpoured:
Jesus Christ, the Word Incarnate,
Here, our Eucharistic Lord.
Jesus, wed to human nature
In the Virgin Mother’s womb,
Raising human nature higher
By Your rising from the tomb,
Thank You, Lord, for staying with us
As the night is drawing near.
You, the Eucharist most holy,
Ever-present, You are here.
Holy Spirit, pledge of heaven,
Lord of life and boundless sway,
You Who filled the twelve apostles
On that Pentecostal day,
Thank You for the gift of priesthood,
Men who stand in Jesus’ place,
Making present sacred mysteries:
Gifts of sacramental grace.
Triune God, the great Thrice-holy,
Father, Son, and Spirit blest,
Always calling us to glory,
To eternal, happy rest,
Thank You for Your plan to give us
That abundant life You share,
From the Eucharist to heaven,
When we see Your presence there.
