A Nun's Life originally ran this story about Sister Janet Mead and her remarkable rendition of the Our Father a number of years ago. Sister Janet passed away January 26, 2022--but her recording lives on. Click below to listen.
Sister Janet Mead, RSM, is one of the best known rocker nuns! She is a Catholic sister belonging to the Sisters of Mercy in Adelaide, South Australia. Her recording of a rock version of The Lord’s Prayer reached #3 on the Australian Singles Chart and #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. She was also nominated for a Grammy Award and a Golden Gospel Award in 2004.
On the album With You I Am (1974), Sister Janet writes:
“I believe that life is a unity and therefore not divided into compartments. That means that worship, music, recreation, work and all other ‘little boxes’ of our lives are really inseparable and this is why I believe that people should be given the opportunity to worship God with the language and music that is part of their ordinary life. The words of the songs on this record almost all come from books of the Bible, which so richly expresses the longings of our heart, our loneliness, our joy, our dependence on God, our desire to love our fellow man and to live in peace. We all recognise these yearnings — they are ours and are common to each of our lives.”
Click below to watch a video of Sister Janet and listen to her hit song.
UPDATE: Check out our interview with another theological rocker, David Nantais!
Archived Comments
Marg March 13, 2012 at 12:51 pm
Rock on, Sister Janet! I am totally with your philosophy, even though I haven’t yet had a chance to hear your music (I’m at work as I write this). Sadly, your wonderful statement, which I heartily endorse, “I believe that people should be given the opportunity to worship God with the language and music that is part of their ordinary life, ” is not consubstantial with current Vatican directions. Praying that the eyes…and ears…of the hierarchy may once again be opened to the beauties and effectiveness of the vernacular.
Barbara March 13, 2012 at 4:48 pm
Blast from the past! Loved listening to it again!
DJC March 14, 2012 at 1:07 am
Has she done anything lately. I love her version of Our Farther, I did not realize that was done sometime ago. And how has she kept up with the changes over the years in music?
marla March 15, 2012 at 1:04 am
i can’t begin to say how this song moved me when i was a teen.
Ann Heaney March 23, 2012 at 6:24 pm
Hi Sister Janet, I first saw you about a week and a half ago singing The Lord’s Prayer on your 1973 album. Your personality and talent shined through. I also read about you in your biography. You are humble and talented. It is also admirable that you gave all of your profits to charity and decided to teach in your small corner of the world rather than to pursue a lucrative career solely as a rock musician…I am a Catholic but I was not always. I experimented with no religion at all, fundamentalism, Lutheranism and came back full circle as a Catholic. I have access to a contemplative group of nuns who are known as, “a powerhouse of prayer.” I am a pen pal with Sister Juliana and we share prayers as well as our ups and downs. I am curious what you are doing now in 2012.
Sister Julie March 26, 2012 at 1:25 pm
Thanks Ann! We’d love to know too what Sister Janet is doing and will see if we can track down any info on her. Will keep you posted.
Ron March 28, 2012 at 8:49 pm
I would like to see a re-release of the ’74 hit “the lords prayer”. Today more than ever, I think the world needs to hear it.
