Retreat director offers a retreat CD

Kristoph Franz says Lilies of the Field allows reflective contemplation

Lilies of the Field CD of contemplative music creates a mini-retreat experience.

By BILL GLEN
WCR Staff Writer
Caroline

Is life stressing you out? Need a spiritual retreat but can't get away?

Kristoph Franz says he can help.

The director of Sanctum Retreat near Caroline has produced Lilies of the Field, a double CD of contemplative music.

Eight selections comprise the first disc where Franz outlines a spiritual movement. The first song (Enter the Garden) sets the mood as an invitation to spiritual retreat and the second (Ask, and you shall receive) begins the process, he said.

Contemplation

"I've tried to put a mini-retreat experience on the CD using Sacred Scripture while moving through the sequence," he said. "My intent was for people to have the experience in their home. There is a need for reflective contemplation."

The second disc is instrumental, highlighting the work of Morag Northey-Taylor, a respected cellist from Calgary. Also applying her talents on harp is Juno-award winner Gianetta Baril, formerly of Edmonton.

Cello timbre

"Morag has done a great job orchestrating this recording. It's notable that most of the string parts, including first and second violin and bass, are played on the cello. It gives a unique timbre to the sound," Franz said.

Kristoph Franz

All proceeds will go to Sanctum Foundation, to help pay down the retreat centre's debt of some $2.5 million.

Franz emphasized the retreat is not in trouble. It's doing quite well, actually, he says. The debt is attributable to the initial development costs.

He has been busy promoting his CD in the Edmonton Archdiocese. He returns Nov. 26 for a concert at Holy Family Parish in St. Albert.

Kristoph says it is more of a meditative experience than a show.

"I have had emails from people who went to a concert telling me it was exactly what they needed," he said.

"There's a limiting format of (75 minutes) to create a retreat experience, but with the video footage of the retreat centre during the concert, the idea is to give people a taste, to raise the profile of (Sanctum) and to encourage them to come to a place of retreat."

Retreat ministry

Franz wrote the songs the last few years in the context of retreat ministry. He uses them at Sanctum and compiled them for use on the CD.

Some 5,000 have been distributed in just under a month. Franz is looking at North American distribution and beyond.

"We have had an enormously positive response to the CD and the concerts. It is a specific genre with a specific purpose.

"It is the kind of recording you have to spend time with in a contemplative space."

Lilies of the Field is available through SandalSong, Franz's independent record label committed to helping people along their spiritual journeys.

To learn more, go to www.sandalsong.com or call (toll-free) 1-888-442-0285. The CD is also available at some Catholic supply stores.

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