Sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Secretariat for Evangelization and Catechesis, Catholic composers, poets, and songwriters were invited in January 2023 to submit creative entries spanning a hymn-writing category and a theme song category to give a fresh voice to the truths of our faith in ways that words cannot express.
The Eucharistic Revival Musical Competition has announced two winners–Kathleen Pluth for the hymn category and Diane Mahoney for the theme song category.
Award-winning songs will be featured at the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, used in liturgies and events marking the Eucharistic Revival in dioceses across the country, and will receive a $2,500 cash prize.
A Spanish version of these songs will also be composed for wider impact and celebration in the Church.
The inaugural Hymn Consultant for the Word on Fire Liturgy of the Hours monthly, her publications include Hymns for the Liturgical Year (CanticaNOVA Publications, 2005) and Hymn Tune Introits: Singing the Sundays of the Liturgical Year (WLP/GIA, 2015).
As a parish and school Director of Sacred Music, she prioritized the musical development of volunteer choirs of adults, teens, and children. Her hymn texts appear frequently
in Magnificat.
Kathleen was selected as the winner in the hymn-writing category for her original text Let the Earth Acclaim Christ Jesus.
Diane received her Bachelors of Music Education from Benedictine College in Atchison, KS and her Masters in Voice from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. She also completed courses in composition and counterpoint. She has composed and arranged music for children’s and adult choirs for most of her life.
During her 27 years in Burlington, Diane also substituted for music teachers, accompanied for school concerts, co-directed Shoquoquon Children’s Choir, and has sung in Bel Canto Chorale (for which she currently accompanies).
Diane was selected as the winner in the theme song category for her original composition We Do Believe, O Lord.
Marilyn Santos is the Associate Director of the Secretariat of Evangelization and Catechesis at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. She previously served as the Director of Mission Education in the National Office of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States. A native New Yorker, she taught and served as a youth minister with the Salesians in the Archdiocese of New York.
She has held leadership positions in youth, young adult and cultural diversity ministries in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, the Diocese of Brooklyn, and the Diocese of Metuchen.
Fluent in Spanish, Marilyn served as the President of La RED- the National Catholic Network de Pastoral Juvenil Hispana and as a consultant for the USCCB Secretariat on Laity, Marriage, Family & Youth. She served as a VIDES-Salesian Sisters Missionary in Ecuador.
She has spoken and presented workshops at multiple national and diocesan conferences and gatherings including those sponsored by the USCCB, NCEA, NCCL, NFCYM, LA Religious Ed Congress and the Mid-Atlantic Congress. She currently serves as a member of the Holy Name Province of the Order of Franciscan Minors (OFM) Formation and Studies Directorate.
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