MusicMinistry
Holy Trinity is blessed to have Dan, Brenda, and Tony as our Music Ministers. Dan Duet is with us during Saturday evening Mass at 5:30PM and on Sunday at 9:00AM. Brenda and Tony Franckowiak lead us at the 11:00AM Mass. They have recorded a CD “Our Music”, along with commentary by Msgr. Fater, to inspire parishioners with joy, comfort, and hope.
A voice.
A call.
A ministry.
Dan Duet
A Catholic who brings back MINISTRY
To the term “Music Ministry”
Dan Duet, is a native of New Orleans but a resident of San Antonio, has been involved in ministry for the past eighteen (18) years.
The 7th of 8 children, Dan attended public high school in the New Orleans area and then proceeded to earn a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge.
It was while involved at Christ the King Parish and Catholic Student Center, both located on the LSU campus, that Dan sensed a calling to ministry. He learned to play guitar and began writing meditational songs to accompany talks he’d been asked to give on retreats.
By the time he graduated, Dan knew that Jesus had a mission for him. Discerning that mission became his obsession. Assuming that a “vocational call” meant the ordained priesthood, Dan spent three years as part of a religious order community.
At the end of his third year, during “novitiate”, Dan realized that the path he was being called to walk did not mean the priesthood. Instead his walk would lead him to become a public speaker and contemporary Christian music artist.
Choosing to follow that path has been a blessing for both Dan and those who have experienced his ministry. Dan makes absolutely “no bones” about the fact that it is Jesus, not Dan, who does the ministering. All Dan wants to do is be an instrument… of healing, … of peace, … of hope, … whatever Jesus wants to use him for. He has often been described as having no “ego” to get in the way of the ministry. How refreshing in today’s world.
“Giving oneself completely to ministry is not easy. I think that sometimes people see in front of an audience and think there’s nothing to it. I’m completely drained by the end of any ministry event. But to know that Jesus has touched someone’s life… I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” –Dan Duet, 2000
Credentials
Since Dan first announced an “official” ministry in 1993, he has been very active. The following is a partial list of some of the events he has participated in. Dan’s ministry has been primarily regional. However, Dan has ambitious plans to take his ministry to a national level beginning Summer 2000.
1993: Music Director, Youth Conference Diocese of Juneau, Alaska
1993-1999: Music Leader, St. Pius X
1994: Workshop Presenter – “Music and Liturgy”, S.A. Super Youth Spectacular
1994: “Come to the Cross” demo release
1995-present: Lenten concert series based on “Come to the Cross”
1995: Music Director, Music Director, National Assembly of Religious Brothers
1996: Speaker – “Peer Ministry” University of Dallas Campus Ministry
1996: “Fly Away, Fly” demo release
1997: Music Director, National Conference for Married Couples, presented by the
St. Joseph Covenant Keepers, at St. Matthews Parish, San Antonio
1997: Catholic Television of San Antonio airs it’s first television special:
“Come to the Cross, A Concert by Dan Duet”
1997: Speaker – “Jesus in the Eucharist” South Texas Marian Conference
1997: Music Director, Youth Program South Texas Charismatic Conference
1997-preseent: Music Leader, Holy Trinity Catholic Church
1997: Speaker – “Jesus in the Eucharist” Youth 2000 Eucharist Retreat Weekend
1998: Workshop Presenter – “Making Choices” S.A. Super Youth Spectacular
1998: Speaker – Youth Program South Texas Marian Conference
1999: Speaker – Youth Program South Texas Marian Conference
1999: Release of debut CD: “Touch the Flame”
1999: Guest Performer: Television Special “A South Texas Christmas”
Catholic Television of San Antonio
“The Concert for Healing”
Although Dan is currently discerning expanding his ministry to include parish missions, the most common expression of his evangelistic calling is through his music.
Typically Dan does not charge San Antonio churches for a one evening event. He does ask for a “love offering” to benefit his ongoing mission, however. In addition, he does expect to be able to have music available for purchase and does want the parish to actively promote the event such that as many parishioners as possible will take advantage of this ministry opportunity.
A musical evening generally lasts for 1 – 2 hours. Dan is flexible in both theme/content and duration of the program. During the course of the evening, Dan infuses prayer, inspirational stories, and sometimes audience participation in a short prayer service that might be based on one of the songs. Most common he uses two of his original compositions, “Fly Away, Fly” and “Mercy Jesus” to set a tone for inner healing and/or reconciliation.
Regardless of how a typical evening might be structured, from start to finish there is a strong prayerful atmosphere that Dan has come to realize Jesus works His wonders. Dan simply creates the right environment that is very inviting for the audience to want to feel the healing presence, where they open their hearts to hear His voice. That is where the “inner healing” has been reported to Dan.
Make no mistake, though, Dan has heard enough experience to know that he should not raise the audience to unrealistic expectations. He does not promise anything. He simply encourages the audience to be open to Jesus as to whether any particular audience member might experience something special that night. And, more often than not, when the concert is over, a number of audience members will share with Dan a report of some form of healing presence experienced during the evening.
Tony and Brenda Franckowiak
Tony and Brenda (Dlugosh) Franckowiak grew up in the Dellcrest neighborhood in southeast San Antonio. As teenagers they started a folk Mass at their parish, St. Benedict’s, and led the Sunday morning Mass there for over 20 years. They moved here to Holy Trinity in 1997, and made the same commitment for our parish. Both play guitar for Mass, and Brenda can also play piano when the occasion calls for it. They include the parts of the Mass from “Country Blessing”, a country style Mass recorded by seminarians in the 1970’s. In addition to Sunday Mass, Brenda sings at many wedding ceremonies and other special events throughout the year.
Both Brenda and Tony are professional musicians, performing every weekend with their popular band Cactus Country throughout the South Texas circuit. Over the years, the band has played with numerous Nashville stars, and has also performed on the main stage at the State Fair of Texas. The band has even traveled internationally, performing in Costa Rica, Central America for the grand opening of a Texas style restaurant there. Locally, in addition to a variety of festivals like the Rodeo and Fiesta Oyster Bake, they perform regularly at the Leon Springs Dancehall. The group is also heavily in demand for conventions and company parties.
They accepted Monsignor Fater’s challenge to record “Our Music” in their digital recording studio, and also recorded Dan Duet’s CD debut. Since completion of these projects they have also recorded several other local Christian acts, helping these artists to get exposure for their own music ministry. Pick up a copy of “Our Music” from the parish office, we’ll sure you’ll enjoy it.
If you would like to keep up with Brenda and Tony or see them perform, here is a link to their website "The Cactus Country Band".