One small world, One great God

November 4, 6:12 PMOrlando Roman Catholic ExaminerMaria Mederos

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  Youth evangelist Sal Solo and Fr. Valdemar next to The Angel of Love painting by Fr. Valdemar. (Photo courtesy
     of: Mari Tastepe (c)).

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Over two decades ago, a young fan with long hair and a wild look attended a concert by a famous new wave rock band in Poland, just as the doors to the West had been finally opened to make this possible.

The British new romantic band, Classix Noveaux, became very popular throughout Europe, but particularly so in Poland.  In fact, this band was not only one of the first ever to be allowed to play in this former communist country, but one of the few rock bands allowed to use the scarce plastic to produce the vinyl records to be sold in Poland.

Two decades later, things have taken an unlikely twist.  After realizing that all the fame and success this world has to offer does not amount to much in terms of happiness, the lead singer of that band -Sal Solo- had one of those 'fall from the high horse' conversion stories.

Sal Solo had by then joined another rock band -the Rocketz- and was still successfully filling venues all over the world, particularly in Europe, and enjoying all that this world has to offer those who reach that pinnacle.  In his heart, though, he was restless.  

The rocker had believed that once he had videos on MTV and VH1, and had fans all over the world, and filled concerts everywhere he went, and received fan mail from far away places, and had received silver and gold discs, that then, maybe, he would finally be happy.  Sadly, this was not the case.  After all of this milestones, Sal Solo was still feeling a void within.  He had not found happiness.

VH1Classic: Classix Nouveaux - Guilty

Eighteen years ago, in Poland coincidentially, Sal Solo had a 'talk' with God.  He asked Him, if He did indeed exist, to come into his life and change it.  Since He does exist, and since He appreciates a sincere heart that seeks Him, God did come into his heart. The rock singer went to a monastery in a small town in Italy, called San Damiano, to have a spiritual retreat.  A song by that name was later recorded in Polish. Sal Solo left the secular rock scene, and became a Christian rocker.  He exclusively writes, sings, plays and performs Christian rock, ever since.

Sal Solo - San Damiano

In the meantime, the young, wild-looking Polish fan, had planned to become an artist doing oil paintings and a rocker himself.  As he finished his high school studies, he was preparing to enter the rock scene.  However, something within -that still quiet voice- kept warning him that something was not quite right.  Feeling restless, the young man went into a monastery in Poland to spend some time talking with God.  Three days later, he put aside his plans and hopes of art and rock music to give his life to God in service to the church. He immediately entered the seminary to prepare for the priesthood. In time, God allowed him to reconcile his love of service to God and people with his love of art and rock music.  

Since God does work in mysterious ways, he reunites these two men two decades later, at a Festival of Faith here in Orlando last year. That young man, now Fr. Valdemar, Associate Pastor at Holy Family Parish, approached Sal Solo to tell him his story, after listening to Sal Solo tell his during the concert. Fr. Valdemar later posted an entry on his website to thank Sal Solo.

...what memories this concert brought! Twenty three years ago I was standing in the crowd of his fans in Warsaw when he arrived there with his group CLASSIC NOUVEAUX. He was at the top then as a pop-star. And just to think – I met him in person just a few days ago and had an opportunity to tell him about it. I met him in completely different circumstances – today he is a Christian music star, and he knows exactly what it means “to have everything material’ and then leave all this for the love of God. He experienced it himself. And he knows how to tell his story to his audience! Sal, thank you for your testimonial, meeting me, and allowing me to take a photo with you, and also for your signed record.   [http://fatherv.com/index.php?lang=en_us&nav=News]

NCYC 2007 SAL SOLO Glorify the Lord

The Almighty, Who apparently insisted on bringing these two Christian rockers together in a land farway from their native Europe, created another opportunity for them to meet.  This time, they cooperated in a youth event, each using his vocation and calling, Sal Solo as youth retreat evangelist, and Fr. Valdemar officiating the Mass at which Sal Solo shared his testimony with the Holy Family Catholic School middle schoolers.  Fr. Valdemar's art, four large oil paintings of the Face of Christ, and one of the Angel of Love that Fr. Valdemar presented as a gift to Sal Solo, decorated the stage.  

The recent all-day youth retreat, a very faith-filled and dynamic, interactive spiritual experience for the children, included a presentation of We Cry Justice! -Sal Solo's latest creation.  This presentation, based on Catholic Social Justice Teaching, not only entertained the children and adults present, but also touched and pulled at the hearts of all.

Having being trained as a philosopher in college, the classic logical proofs for the existence of God have great appeal to me.  However, witnessing the metamorphoses of these two rockers, clearly has been tangible proof, not only of God's existence, but also of His constant care and guidance throughout the lives of those who seek Him.  He is a great God indeed!

As Fr. Valdemar preached in a recent homily,

For some, seeing is believing.  For others, believing is seeing...

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For more information:

On Sal Solo:
http://www.salsolo.com/Welcome_to_Sal_Solo.com!.html

On Fr. Valdemar:
http://fatherv.com/index.php?lang=en_us&nav=Home

On Classix Noveaux and Rocketz:
http://www.salsolo.com/Classix_Fans.html