8 minute read
Prepared to Serve: Music & Ministry
by Stephanie R. Leader
Parker Staub ‘19
Parker Staub '19
For Parker Staub ’19, his voice is his instrument. Not only for creating beautiful music but for proclaiming his love for the Lord. Music and song have always been a big part of his life. Those talents turned into a way to extend his faith during his time as a student at Delone Catholic High School and now as a senior political science major and music and statistics minor at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Staub began his musical journey by singing in the children’s choir, cantering at Masses, playing the piano, and acting in plays as a student at St. Francis Xavier Catholic School in Gettysburg. Staub says when he entered Delone Catholic, his passion was able to thrive. “There was an opportunity to take music seriously,” he said. “I got involved with the choir and I was in two musicals.” Additionally, Staub got second place in Delone Catholic’s talent show as a freshman.
Staub credits Mr. Brian Yealy ’79 as a big reason why he is where he is today. These experiences at Delone Catholic inspired Staub to further his faithful foundation and join FOCUS Ministries, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students. As a FOCUS minister, Staub can visit college campuses far and wide, share his faith, and lead others with the Word of the Lord. Through FOCUS, Staub was allowed the opportunity of a lifetime to share his music with the world. Staub is hesitant to call himself a songwriter, but he became one upon the completion of his first song, “Very Good.”
It was after the completion of “Very Good” that Staub decided he wanted to enter the FOCUS Ministries Awaken Competition at the 2021 SEEK Conference which highlights students and their works of art that awakens you to the mystery of Christ through beauty.
“Songwriting is not easy, and I don’t know if I’m doing it right, but I try to read scripture daily. I was reading Matthew’s Gospel and the Gentle Mastery of Christ. I had an idea for melodies and chord progression, and when I came across that Gospel I sat at my piano and created the chorus,” he said.
Staub ended up winning the 2021 Awaken Competition’s songwriting category. As the winner, Staub flew to Nashville, Tenn., to record his single. His song can now be heard on major streaming platforms. He noted that one of his proudest moments since releasing his song was being recognized while doing missionary work in Mexico. “Someone from the first FOCUS campus in Latin America came up to me and told me he loved my song, and that it’s international. I never would have anticipated it taking off as it did, but I never really doubted that the Lord would move hearts with it,” Staub said.
Another inspiration for his song was the idea of what faith looks like later on in a person’s life. “I was going to daily Mass and noticed people there in their 70s and 80s. I was wondering what their faith journey was like and what my faith would look like at that stage of my life.”
As far as what the future holds, Staub continues songwriting in his spare time but is looking forward to being as active as possible in FOCUS, and to where his degree and experiences will take him.
“I have a few more songs that I’ve been praying over and working on, but my priority right now is FOCUS and my mission,” Staub said. Staub does not know what the future holds and knows there are many ways his gifts can serve the Lord, and he knows God has a plan for him.
One song he is working on right now is about the questions we ask Jesus about why something is going on in our life. The song highlights the real experiences we go through and asks Jesus for guidance. As Staub discerns his calling, he asks the Lord to show him the way.
Above all, Staub says he is most grateful for his family for guiding him through his journey and for his gift of Catholic education. “You can’t understate the value that faith is present in every classroom at Delone Catholic. That presence through those four years made me realize that this is real and a big part of my life. My first encounter with Christ was at Kairos with Mrs. Phenicie. Prayer every day and the accessibility of the sacraments show that your faith is relevant at any point in life.”
Parker Staub playing his piano
Molly McManus ‘15
Molly McManus '15
Music was always a private love for Molly McManus ’15. While a student at Delone Catholic High School, Campus Ministry and Respect Life Club were McManus’s main activities while keeping her interest in song and worship writing close to her heart. While spending time praying in the Our Lady, Queen of Peace Chapel, which she called her “home base,” McManus discerned what God’s calling for her would be and how she can use her talents to love and serve the Lord, knowing she wanted to help others along the way.
It was those seeds that were planted early on in McManus’s life that grew her into the recording artist, Catholic high school teacher, campus ministry and worship leader that we see today.
After graduating from the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio with a degree in social work, McManus went on to teach Religion and campus ministry at a local Catholic high school. While working, she pursued her love of music further and signed with Dayton Avenue Records in Minneapolis, Minn. McManus flies to Minnesota a few times a year to record her music and shoot accompanying videos.
“I’ve always loved music, leading worship, and writing, but it wasn’t something I started sharing with others until recently,” she said. She never anticipated writing music as a job or teaching with her degree. “Giving in to God and seeing how he just opens doors and doesn’t ask much of us. Me saying yes has led me into doing something where I’m so much happier.”
The song that means the most to McManus is entitled “Perfect Love,” which was written when she was leading a worship retreat. “God was doing a lot in my heart at the time and I had a little break. I sat down with a friend and we wrote it in 20 minutes. It captures who God is to me really well,” she said. The song focuses on the sacrifice that the Lord gave us and how we come alive by His perfect love. “I was lucky enough to be raised in the faith and see that it is more than just an every Sunday thing, but that it’s really important in everyday life,” she said. “It carries me through everything. Every big decision and small decision I make is made through the lens of how I can serve the Lord.” McManus says every act of service and every song is done to get to Heaven and help others do the same.
McManus credits Delone Catholic for shaping her to love the Lord and be as connected to her faith as possible. Her most formative experiences at Delone Catholic, she recalled were Mrs. DiPuppo’s Scripture class and Kairos with Mrs. Phenicie.
Today, McManus lives and works full-time in Steubenville, the town where she found her calling. She looks forward to pursuing her music career further. She is currently engaged to be married and hopes to one day start a family, and would love to travel more.
“My main goal when I’m songwriting is to be very real in my songs and hopefully help someone to be able to connect with that.”
To McManus, creating music is about enacting positive change in one’s life. “I’m a sinner and He’s changed my life and I want to show others that He can change their lives too.”
