by Adolf Washington
Bangalore, Jun 30: Internationally known American Rap music priest Fr. Stan Fortuna is scheduled to perform in Bangalore July 30th before over 1000 youth. Known as ‘The Star Of World Youth Day’, Stan will perform at the Praise and Worship meet called ‘Magnificat’ at St. Joseph Boys School Auditorium in Bangalore. Divine Retreat Centre Director, Fr. Agustine Vallooran will lead the congregation in prayer.
Fr Stan who wears a grey Franciscan cassock and long hair performs with 5 instruments - the piccolo, guitar, drums, keyboard, flute, mouth-organ and almost anything contraption that can produce sound) simultaneously. His music renditions are interspersed with humor and brief messages on themes like ‘Witnessing’, ‘Holy Spirit’ and Pro-Life issues. A man of few words but with a heart for music, Fr. Stan stresses on the joy of being ‘Catholic’ and the urgency to be witnesses of Christ everywhere.
Fr. Stan, who performed at various places in the country, including Divine Retreat Centre, is the heart-throb of youth all over.
Father Stan Fortuna, of Italian and Greek Heritage in US born June 9, 1957, is notable for his evangelical musical contributions of various genres, primarily Catholic-based jazz and hip hop.
He is one of the eight original members of the Community of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, a Franciscan order established by Cardinal John Joseph O'Connor in 1987. Father Stan was ordained as a priest in the Bronx in 1990.
Father Fortuna established the non-profit Francesco Productions in 1987 as a means to record and distribute evangelical music, video productions and books as well as handle his speaking and concert engagements; all proceeds benefit the Community's work with the poor of the South Bronx where he lives. Francesco International Love Outreach, was started to assist in working with the poverty-stricken outside of the US, including the underprivileged in Uganda and Poland.
An international speaker, Father Fortuna has been a featured presenter at numerous Franciscan youth conferences like Steubenville and has numerous appearances to his credit on the EWTN program, Life on the Rock. He frequently performs and lectures in the USA and countries in Europe and Africa. His work and music have garnered articles in a number of publications including the US hip hop magazine XXL and in the New York Press; he has also appeared on Entertainment Tonight Canada and Much Music's "Popoganda".