Meet Elyse.
The fruit of many years of music ministry and an active prayer life formed the basis for Elyse O’Kane’s first CD, “With All My Heart”, which features 12 original compositions of prayer and praise. She has been active in the music ministry of her parish, has sung at Eucharistic congresses for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, and sings with a small choir for healing Masses throughout the Atlanta area. Her first composition came spontaneously in 1991 while on vacation at the beach. Elyse states: “On the way home from Mass one morning, I started to sing a song with a melody that was joyful and uplifting. ‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior’, the words to Mary’s Magnificat. Realizing that I had written a song for the first time came as a total surprise! It had a unique Hebrew flavor and seemed to reflect the joy that Mary must have felt when she knew that she was carrying the Messiah.” Some months later, Elyse was asked to coordinate the music for the newly formed Joyful Visitation Chapter of Magnificat in Atlanta and knew that her first song had a purpose. She led the music for this chapter for ten years. Her song, “Magnificat” is now being used by the New Orleans’ based international ministry as their official theme song.
In the months and years that followed, she continued to hear both melodies and lyrics, many during Eucharistic adoration, and began to write them down without being sure whether they would ever be published or sung. A dear friend, Mary Rogers, also a singer, composer and recording artist, saw something special in Elyse’s music and offered to produce her CD. “Elyse’s compositions have a unique character,” Rogers said. All are contemporary yet timeless in their appeal, some bringing an element of chant to them. They reflect her prayerful spirit and her heartfelt worship and love of God and the Blessed Mother.
The songs bring listeners into a spiritual oasis.”They reflect her prayerful spirit and her heartfelt worship and love of God and the Blessed Mother. The songs bring listeners into a spiritual oasis.”
After recording With All My Heart and thinking the song writing experience to be over, more songs came to Elyse. Once again the professional guidance of Mary Welch Rogers and Ed Bolduc, another gifted musician and songwriter, proved invaluable. And now a new album is available. A Time To Heal contains songs which will bring listeners into the healing presence of the Lord. Many years ago, Elyse received a physical healing after a powerful prayer of a member of her parish. Because of this miracle, Elyse’s faith increased and this experience has led her into a ministry of healing and intercessory prayer.
“I just love to sing and praise God in music”, Elyse says “But more than anything I love to minister to people through this medium. I have seen how music opens doors to people’s hearts, how it touches the soul and how it heals. Every day I pray for those who are listening to my music, and pray He would give them His gifts of peace, joy and inner healing. This has been my prayer from the very beginning.”