From Vinyl to Digital
A Centennial Album Finds New Life in the Digital Age
Nearly 40 years after its original release, the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon’s 1986 album “In Praise of God” is returning — this time as a digitized release available on streaming platforms. What began as a Centennial celebration of faith and music has become a timeless reflection of the Sisters’ devotion and ministry.
Today, SSMO Ministries is proud to share this legacy recording with a new generation of listeners, ensuring that the Sisters’ voices of praise continue to inspire for years to come. More than a re-release, “In Praise of God” preserves a special chapter of SSMO Community history and honors the enduring power of music in the lives of the Sisters.
Music Rooted in Service
Music has been part of the Sisters’ story since the earliest days of their existence. Founded in 1886 in Sublimity, Oregon, by Archbishop William H. Gross, the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon were called to serve the growing Catholic community of the Pacific Northwest through education and community care. Within only a few years, their ministry expanded to include music instruction.
“Music quickly became central to our daily life,” recalled Sister M. Juliana Monti, who directed and accompanied the choir on the 1986 recording. “The hymns we included were those the Sisters loved most, often sung during liturgies, prayer, and community celebrations.”
Across decades, the Sisters taught piano and voice, directed parish choirs, accompanied school concerts, and performed for community gatherings. Music was more than a skill — it was ministry. Whether through Gregorian chant in the chapel or folk hymns strummed on guitar during Mass, music gave voice to their mission of service and prayer.
“Music can direct our thoughts, set a mood, and lift our hearts in praise of God,” Sister Juliana said. “It’s part of how we connect with one another and with the Lord.”
A Centennial Celebration in Song
The 1986 album “In Praise of God” followed the Sisters’ first record, “Praise God in Song” (1982), which had introduced their musical spirit to friends and families across the Northwest. Together, the two albums frame a creative period in the Congregation’s history – years of renewal, growth, and gratitude.
As the Sisters prepared to celebrate their Centennial, they envisioned a project that would commemorate 100 years of prayer, teaching, and service. They decided to express that gratitude through music, through a record that would capture their collective voice.
Under Sister Juliana’s direction, the project came together as both a labor of love and an act of faith. The chapel became a temporary recording studio. Cables and microphones were carefully placed around sanctuary decor and wooden pews. “I remember everyone being so excited to be part of making the record and having so much fun,” Sister Juliana said. “Everybody gathered to do their best and to do so Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam — for the greater glory of God.”
The album featured both Centennial and Christmas music. Side one included “City of God” by Dan Schutte, “Angelus” by Henriette Renié, and “Servant Song” by Sr. Donna Marie McGargill. Side two offered beloved carols such as “Joy to the World,” “Silent Night,” and “Adeste Fidelis.”
Nearly every Sister contributed in some way. Some sang in the choir, others played instruments, and still others helped with arrangements, logistics, and liner notes. “It was the year of our Centennial, and we wanted to do something special to celebrate,” recalled Sister Adele Marie Altenhofen, who played guitar and sang harmonies. “We gathered in the chapel to record, and I remember needing to stay very still because every little page turn or wiggle was caught on the sensitive equipment! It was a lot of fun to collaborate and share that experience together.”
The Sound of Community
That sense of collaboration defined the project. The Sisters’ musical talents, shaped by years of lessons, rehearsals, and teaching, came together in a joyful harmony that reflected their shared purpose.
The ensemble included harpist Sister M. John Therese Miller, trumpeter and visual artist Sister M. Krista von Borstel, guitarists Sister M. Pauline Rose Waibel (*), Sister Diana Francis Oakley (*) and Sister Adele Marie Altenhofen, flutist Monique Le Doux, and organists Sister Juliana Monti and Sister Denise Klaas. The handbell ensemble, conducted by Sister Catherine Hertel, added shimmering tones to several tracks.
“It was a work of love and of community,” said Sister M. John Therese. “Each Sister shared her gifts. The instruments were the icing on the cake.”
For Sister Adele Marie, the music still carries the same feeling of unity. “I would hope listeners hear joy in our voices,” she said. “Our current world seems so fractured and divided. We need to be steeped in joy and hope to overcome the anxieties that press upon us.”
Even the challenges, from capturing takes to balancing sound levels and maintaining stillness, became part of the memory. Sister M. Juanita Villarreal recalled how the process taught patience and attentiveness: “At the end of a song, we were told to remain frozen — no throat clearing, no rustling of papers, total silence until the machines were turned off.”
For some, it was their first experience with recording equipment; for others, it was a chance to connect their personal faith to a shared creative endeavor. “The project was joyful,” Sister M. John Therese said. “It thrills me that from our founding, the Sisters have been drawn to the fine arts. This was a beautiful instance of that tradition in action.”
The Art of Faith
While the choir rehearsed and recorded, Sister M. Krista von Borstel was designing the album’s visual identity. “I was asked to capture unique elements of the community,” she said. “On the first album, I included the Motherhouse. On the second, I tied our first superior general with three Sisters from our time. It bridged our beginnings to the present as we celebrated our Centennial.”
The cover art, created entirely by hand with airbrush and ink, portrayed both heritage and hope. For Sister Krista, the assignment coincided with a deeply personal milestone, her final vows. “The music was also used at my ceremony,” she shared. “The song ‘Hail Mary, Gentle Woman’ was very special to me. It’s about Our Lady, whom we all endeavor to emulate. When you have great music and a great message, it’s a win.” She still recalls the moment when the first box of finished albums arrived. “It was such an exciting time. We played the music together, and it felt like we were hearing our Community reflected back to us. I’m proud of all the Sisters for that effort. I’m glad it’s being dusted off and reproduced.”
A Legacy in Song
Beyond its technical accomplishment, “In Praise of God” captured something intangible: the sound of a century of faith. The album’s liner notes, written by Sister Anna Hertel (+), expressed the spirit behind the music:
“At the close of our Centennial Year, the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon have prepared this record to proclaim to others the joy and the gratitude we owe to God for His goodness to us.”
Those words still resonate. The record is not simply a collection of songs. The record is an audible reflection of gratitude, vocation, and community. Each voice carries the humility that defines the Sisters’ charism. “It was about sharing our gifts,” Sister Juliana said. “That’s what made it so meaningful. We did not record the album for recognition. We recorded it to give glory to God.”
From Vinyl to Streaming
Four decades later, “In Praise of God,” originally recorded and shared on vinyl during the Sisters’ Centennial year, has found a new home online. The original 1986 recording has been carefully digitized and will now be available on Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming platforms. For Sister Denise Klaas, who performed Bach’s “Concerto II in A Minor” on the organ, this release continues the music’s original purpose. “Music is a prayer,” she said. “In playing and singing, I uplift my spirit to the Lord. I hope it becomes a prayer or a peace-filled moment for those who listen.”
An Enduring Prayer
Listening to “In Praise of God” today, one can still hear the laughter, discipline, and reverence that filled the chapel in 1986. Each note carries both the intimacy of prayer and the grandeur of a century of service.
“I hope the music lifts hearts in prayer and helps others learn who we are — women of prayer and joyful servants of the Lord,” said Sister Juliana. That hope remains fulfilled as the album returns to life, connecting past voices with present ears. What began as a Centennial gift now serves as a bridge to the future — a reminder that in every era, song has the power to unite, to inspire, and to give thanks.
Note:
Nearly four decades have passed since “In Praise of God” was recorded. The reflections shared in this article come from Sisters who participated in the 1986 project and continue to share their memories today, including Sisters Juliana Monti, Adele Marie Altenhofen, John Therese Miller, Krista von Borstel, Juanita Villarreal, and Denise Klaas. Their recollections help preserve the community’s musical history and honor all who contributed to the original recording.
Note:
Some of the Sisters named in this article have since passed away (+) or were called to serve God outside of the SSMO Congregation (*). Their contributions to “In Praise of God” and to the music ministry of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon are remembered with gratitude.
Listen and Reflect:
In Praise of God remains a time capsule of faith, community, and devotion. It is a reminder that music, when made in unity, carries across generations. As it returns in digital form, the Sisters invite all who listen to share in their century-long song of praise.
