Catholic Underground meets every 3rd Saturday @ 7:30PM from September to May at Holy Apostles College & Seminary, 33 Prospect Hill Rd, Cromwell, CT.  Click for directions.

Mark Mattheiss is the youngest of six children from a musically gifted family. His mom was a singer of Irish ballads and his dad has the heart of a poet and a love of percussion.  His older brother, Matt, is a talented singer songwriter who inspired and gave Mark his first opportunities to perform. The two of them played together for many years doing both cover and original material. In 1991, they auditioned for Dick Clark’s USA Music Challenge. Matt went to L.A. and sang Mark’s song “Hard Love” in front of a live prime-time t.v. audience.

Born and raised in South Orange NJ and currently residing in Newark NJ, Mark has listened and followed the call of the Lord in his life. Mark is currently a lay Catholic evangelist, missionary, and street preacher and is the founder of Gratia Plena Evangelical Community.

To learn more about Mark, visit his website at http://www.mjlmmusic.com/home.html and also his facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gratia-Plena-Evangelical-Community/140549129330538

THE EVENING:

Adoration starts 7:30 with exposition and evening prayer, then proceeds to meditative music and closes with Benediction. Confessions are available during Adoration.

After Adoration, we meet in the basement for refreshments and a few minutes to socialize. Then our guest performer will perform for us. Chairs are available so get a seat before they are gone.

We close with night prayer and leave at 10:30.  Don’t miss the last event of the season!

Catholic Underground meets every third Saturday from September to May, at Holy Apostles College & Seminary.

Bob Halligan Jr has written over a thousand songs, 200 of which have been recorded and released internationally, with sales of over 30 million units.  (Yes, we’re serious… Bob’s discography is nothing less than intimidating).  Among the artists who have covered his songs are Cher, KISS, Judas Priest, Michael Bolton, Kathy Mattea, and Blue Oyster Cult. Bob has sung on records with many artists who’ve had #1 records, including Michael McDonald, Joan Jett, Felix Cavaliere of the Rascals, and Darlene Love. He has sung lead vocals on national TV and radio commercials for Folgers, M&Ms, Carefree Sugarless Gum and Miller Genuine Draft. His current recording and touring group, Ceili Rain, has been together for 16 years and has released 7 award-winning CDs.

Don’t miss this one!

Catholic Underground meets every third Saturday from September to May, at Holy Apostles College & Seminary.

This month’s performers, The World Upside Down, are a jazz-inspired rock band with a sound that conjures up Coldplay, John Mayer, and even James Taylor. The band was formed in the autumn of 2011 from an unlikely combination of four friends from different musical backgrounds. The keyboardist, Matt, was resigned to being a one-man cover band, plucking the heart strings of college girls. James, the eldest boy of seven musical children, had grown up playing in church with his family but had yet to reach beyond that realm. Thad, the drummer and nephew of bassist Richard Bunkiewicz from the popular 70s band Stanky Brown, was playing in a heavy metal band called A Liars’ Heaven. And Isaac, the lead singer and guitarist, was a singer-songwriter who had given up on dreams of a music career but continued playing gigs for fun. It was one of these gigs that initially brought Isaac and Matt together. After discovering they were musically simpatico, the two formed a band, gradually acquiring bandmates James and Thad. The band has played throughout New Jersey, from small intimate shows to larger-scale concerts.

The World Upside Down’s self-titled EP was released in January 2012 and can be purchased on iTunes, Amazon, and BandCamp.  Listen here: http://twudband.com/

Location Holy Apostles College & Seminary, Cromwell, CT

Adoration starts at 7:30. Performance/coffee house immediately following.

This month’s event will showcase three of CT’s up-and-coming Catholic musicians!

Jess Harris is a 2008 Steubenville Grad teaching Religion at St. Joseph’s High School in Trumbull. She sings often and can be found rocking out on her ukulele! She is an up and coming talent on the Connecticut Catholic music scene.

Christina LaRosa has been singing and playing Praise & Worship at Catholic conferences, retreats, and small group events for many years and has sat in with regional Catholic musical acts such as The R.O.C.K. Group and Martin Doman. She has performed with Catholic Underground CT’s house band.

Michael La Barre is a graduate of Manhattanville College and Western Connecticut State Univ. with degrees in Music Education. He currently teaches full-time choral and general music in the Ridgefield Public Schools in Ridgefield, CT. He has held a number of parish music directorships and has experience with playing the organ, cantoring, Gregorian chant and classical polyphony, as well as directing and composing for adult and children’s choirs. He has also applied his gifts to praise and worship music. He loves improvising at the keyboard and will likely share that joy with you at Catholic Underground!

Be sure to spread the word and join us!

Location Holy Apostles College & Seminary, Cromwell, CT

Alex Kubik was born and raised a Byzantine Catholic and spent his childhood Sundays going from ancient traditional Liturgies to Charismatic prayer meetings. This wide range of exposure to the many different facets of the Church inspired a love for the worship of God, specifically through music. He studied voice and music recording at various universities in and around NYC. For nearly 20 years he has been involved in music ministry at parishes and conferences in the USA, Canada, and beyond. Alex delivers a unique blend of acoustic folk-rock driven by strong vocals. He lives in Connecticut with his lovely wife Joy and their two daughters.

Catholic Underground meets every third Saturday from September to May at Holy Apostles College and Seminary.  Adoration starts 7:30 with exposition and evening prayer, then proceeds to meditative music and closes with Benediction. Confessions are available during Adoration.  After Adoration, we meet in the basement for a social gathering with refreshments and a live performance with a Catholic artist.  We close with night prayer and conclude at 10:30.

Location Holy Apostles College & Seminary, Cromwell, CT

Eucharistic Adoration begins at 7:30PM this Saturday night along with Evening Prayer, music, meditations, and Reconciliation.  Immediately following will be our Advent/Christmas party downstairs with a roomful of young Catholics, an array of goodies, and DJ’d Christmas music.

First the Reason, then the season. 

Location Holy Apostles College & Seminary, Cromwell, CT

Adoration starts at 7:30. Performance/coffee house immediately following.

Location Holy Apostles College & Seminary, Cromwell, CT

Adoration starts at 7:30. Performance/coffee house immediately following.

Born and raised in southern Maine, Josh Houde began playing guitar near the beginning of high school to lead music for a youth prayer meeting. Almost as soon as he began playing, he also began composing. Participating in music ministry at Franciscan University of Steubenville (2003-2007) and putting music to the psalms at Mass was a key contributing factor to Josh’s musical development. When a complete stranger heard Josh playing during a summer conference in Steubenville and gave him $500 towards recording a CD, Josh leapt at the opportunity, and spent several weeks of August, 2007 in the recording studio. The resulting project, “Let My Desires Sing,” features a wide variety of styles—passionate rock, heartfelt worship, and biblical humor. Josh is best known for “The Awkward Song” with over 70,000 hits on Youtube. Check it out below!

Location Holy Apostles College & Seminary, Cromwell, CT
Adoration starts at 7:30. Performance/coffee house immediately following

Marie is a complete musician that not only has an incredible singing voice, but also writes her own songs and plays multiple instruments. Curb Records recognized Marie’s potential and signed Marie to an artist and publishing deal. Their faith in Marie paid-off when her first single Cold enjoyed a four month run on the Christian charts.

Last Event Of The Season!!!

Join us upstairs in the chapel for an hour with Our Lord beginning at 7:30PM, which includes Eucharistic Adoration, Vespers, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and simple praise music with meditations.  We will continue downstairs at from 8:30 with a social gathering, refreshments, music, ending with Compline (Night Prayer) at 10:30PM.

This Month’s Performer:  Christina LaRosa has been singing and playing Praise & Worship at Catholic conferences, retreats, and small group events for many years and has sat in with regional Catholic musical acts such as The R.O.C.K. Group and Martin Doman.  A member of Catholic Underground CT’s house band, you’ve heard her percussion skill at nearly every event since we began.  This month she’ll treat us to her guitar and vocals, playing a mix of modern Christian rock and some original songs.