In order to foster Spiritual growth, provide incentives for art and creativity centered on the Blessed Mother, and to intensify the unity between Catholic artists, musicians from around the world have supplied their songs about Mary to the XIX World Festival of Marian Songs. Together with artists from 24 other nations, the U.S. artist and Canadian artist will perform his or her songs live in Guatemala before an international panel of judges that will select the five top songs.

One of the artists that was given that privilege this year was David MacDonald.
MacDonald submitted the title song for his CD Life Is The Only Choice. 
This 14 song collection is full of life. It has messages of praise and worship, as well as, giving glory to God for His precious gift to each of us. MacDonald’s style is high energy pop, with lots of funk and light jazz. If you’re a fan of Fr. Stan Fortuna, Aaron Thompson, or Crispin this CD is for you. The CD starts with the intoxicating sounds of “King Of Creation.” From the first notes you get a happy feeling inside and as the song praises Lord Jesus, author of life, you can’t help but be lifted up with it. “Break Me” is another song that has that funk beat, but hits you like a hammer with powerful lyrics.  It lets us know that sometimes God has to knock us down a couple of rungs from the ladder of life, so we can be stronger for Him. Love is the center of our lives and Jesus love is the message in “Love At The Centre.” MacDonald gives this piece an almost Beatles style. Slowing the tunes down a bit is the homage to our beginning and providing a great pro-life anthem. ” …God's been working on you… He's been making every bone and every sinew of this miracle, you are the union the blessed communion of Heaven and earth... “ that’s the words or “Legacy of Love.” There is no doubt about the miracle of life. True to this is the awesome title track of this CD. “Life Is The Only Choice” is an awesome song in which we see someone who has chased the emptiness that the world offers and gave up their child in abortion to keep that lifestyle. The person now hears the prayers of the Mother of God for these people who battle for the right to choose. This is not only a pro-life song, but one that echoes Mary’s love for us. It is why, it is an excellent choice for the Marian Song Festival. MacDonald does seem to have a little fun with the song “Multi-Nation Generation” in which he spouts off the nations of the world much like Yakko Warner on the Animaniacs cartoon show. MacDonald does add that Jesus should bless each of these countries. “Cult-CULT-ure” is an in-your-face, light rap song, much like Fr. Stan Fortuna. The lyrics are to the point and are very timely. Just this month the FCC decided that the use of the F-word was ok for TV, yet we still can’t say the J-word without offending someone, this is pointed out by MacDonald who say he doesn’t want to be a part of that culture! MacDonald is a rising star in Catholic music and someone to watch. I predict “Life Is The Only Choice” to be the start of a huge career.

Child of the Chain is a collection of spiritual/inspirational songs and hymns written and performed by Mary Shanahan for her communities at St. John Neumann Church and St. Gabriel's Catholic School in Austin, Texas. The songs chronicle the intimate peaks and valleys of her intense spiritual formation over the years. Its release signifies Mary's newfound willingness to abandon a life among the silent majority of her beloved church and country and fight for all that is holy, truthful and sacred in both. These songs are  beautiful not only in vocals and music, but in words, as well. From the love song of the Holy Eucharist in “I Know Jesus,“  in which Shanahan talks about Jesus’ true presence, to the Last Supper celebration of Holy Thursday night in the song “The Greatest Truth.” The song “I Remember” lets us know that God is with us always and has shaped out life. Seeing Jesus in others is the theme to “I See Your People Lord.” Two very patriotic songs are “In The Fold Of America’s Wings,” a song asking God to bless our President and the US troops who fight to protect us and the touching song “Rain,” about the 9/11 tragedy.  There are also songs that we hear in Mass that Shanahan has redone for this project. Song like Kyrie Eleison, Sanctus and Lamb Of God have new life breathed into them by Shanahan.  Commenting on “Child of the Chain” Shanahan offers, "It is with a profound respect and gratitude for the passionate love my ancestors had for God, family, and country that I now embrace the important responsibility we all have to keep the chain of truth alive for generations to come. I humbly offer this music as my witness to the power, the hope and the eternal peace found in the greatest story ever told; the story of the ever-living presence of Jesus Christ in the human experience."