By Beth Griffin
Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) — Three tenors, who are diocesan priests from Northern Ireland, have reached the number one spot on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart for their debut album “The Priests.”

Since the album went on sale Nov. 18, more than 1 million copies have sold. By Dec. 18, it was at the top of Billboard’s Chart in Classical Traditional, #4 on Christian/Gospel Chart and #5 on Classical Overall Chart.

The Priests, Father David Delargy, Father Martin O’Hagan and his brother Father Eugene O’Hagan, have signed a recording contract with the RCA Victor label of Sony BMG worth 1 million euros (US$1.27 million). Their first album is titled “Priests.” CNS PHOTO/DAVID BAILEY/COURTESY OF RCA

Calling themselves “The Priests,” they sing sacred music, including “Panis Angelicus” and “Ave Maria.” as well as classical arias and traditional Irish songs. Their album was recorded, in part, in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, during a break from their pastoral duties. Each priest is associated with a parish in the Diocese of Down and Connor.

Their recording contract with the RCA Victor label of Sony BMG (signed for 1 million euros), acknowledges the priority of their priestly duties. Their share of the proceeds will be used for their parishes and to support retired priests.

Father Eugene O’Hagan, his brother Father Martin O’Hagan and Father David Delargy began singing together in high school, where their schoolmates called them “Holy Holy Holy” because of their shared goal to enter the priesthood.

They continued singing together while they studied at the diocesan seminary, St. Malachy’s College in Belfast, and took voice lessons from renowned teacher Frank Capper. When the trio attended the Irish College in Rome, Father Eugene O’Hagan continued voice lessons and the three priests sang on many occasions, including a Mass celebrated by the late Pope John Paul II.

The Priests, all in their 40s, said they were inspired by Pope John Paul to spread the Gospel in new ways.

In a blog about their experiences in Rome, Father Eugene O’Hagan wrote: “This has been a privileged time for us in many unexpected ways. We are, each of us, mindful of the exhortation of the late Pope John Paul II to ‘put out into the deep’ where, leaving the security of the familiar shoreline, we may have the chance of helping those at risk of being swept along by perilous currents and tides, mindful to avoid being caught up in them ourselves. This is a challenge made to every follower of Christ in every era and no less urgent in today’s modern world.”

Father Eugene O’Hagan said Bishop Noel Treanor of Down and Connor “is delighted that he has three priests putting the diocese on the map.” He said Bishop Treanor’s predecessor, Bishop Patrick Walsh, “was happy to endorse us. He knew we’d been singing since our seminary years.”

During a promotional tour in New York in October, the Priests sang at a private Sony BMG reception held in their honor at Providence, a New York nightclub, which was the Manhattan Baptist Church from the 1920s to the 1960s. Its cathedral ceiling, arched windows and exposed beams are still intact.

The acoustics in the place are so good it was the home of Media Sound Studios in the 1970s and 1980s, hosting recording sessions for Jimi Hendrix, Billy Joel, John Lennon, the Rolling Stones, James Taylor and other legendary rock performers.

The Priests, wearing clerical garb and standing with their hands at their sides, sang five songs from a small unadorned platform. The cover art for their album, a Celtic cross on a white background, was projected on the windows on either side of the stage. They were accompanied by pianist Danny O’Neill.

Richard Palmese, executive vice president for promotion for RCA Music Group, said that as an executive he is “excited about the great music and the vocal talents of our three artists.”

“As a Catholic I’m proud to be able to support their ministry,” he said. “It’s a celebration of popular spiritual music and a celebration of the priesthood. The Priests are bringing a message to millions through the ministry of song.”

Palmese continued, “These are hit songs, spiritual classics we’ve grown up with, songs that we cherish. It’s a very worthy product commercially and spiritually. We need evangelism in these times.”

He acknowledged The Priests is not a typical group for RCA and joked that its members were the first artists in his more than 30 years in the business that he can promote without going to confession.

Father Delargy said the three priests were grateful for the encouragement of their confreres, whom he described as “a very strong fraternity of priests. They are delighted for us and very supportive.”

The O’Hagan brothers added that their 93-year-old father was “over-the-moon” happy for them and convinced that their recently deceased mother “is having words with God” to assure their success.

(The Priests’ Web site, www.ThePriests.com, has samples of their music and an interactive blog. The album is on sale at the gift shop at the Cathedral of Christ the Light in downtown Oakland for $22.)

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