BERNIE CHOINIERE

This young man has dedicated his gifts of music to uplifting the young while spreading the Gospel message with confidence and hope. His songs help to convey the love of God and eloquently address their needs without being preachy. He shoots for the heart with songs of love for the soul.

Like many young people, Bernie began to question his Catholic upbringing during the high school and college years. Eventually he left the Church. To find acceptance he gave in to peer pressure and id things that compromised his better judgment. Bernie went to the Boston Conservatory of Music and received his degree in musical theater. When he grew weary of the theater world, he redirected his talents and joined a rock band. He also dabbled in some substance abuse. "I can remember being depressed often and I really felt lost and I didn't know how I fit into the big picture."

Seeing few alternatives and inspired by the faith journey of a friend, Bernie reached out to God in prayer. It was very difficult as he felt the constant clash of the life he was leading and the new direction he was trying. But through his daily prayer, Bernie very slowly began to experience a peace he had not known before.

He turned to the Church and began attending Mass again. He gained a deeper understanding through the power of prayer and the presence of God in his life. "The rosary is how I came back. Mary reintroduced me to her son, Jesus. God revealed Himself to me in a few awesome ways and it eliminated any doubt I had about Him! I guess you could say I was a doubting Thomas." With this renewed hope, and his eyes and ears open, he felt more strength to change many of his habits he had developed. He then met his future wife who helped spark his Christian music ministry. "Believe it or not, we knew the day we first talked to each other that we would marry. I don't usually believe in that stuff but our connection was as real as my faith." Eventually Bernie left the band. And little by little the way has been cleared for him to use his gifts solely for the Lord.

In the past 8 years of music ministry Bernie has told his story and sung his songs for thousands of youth in the New England area, as well as in different parts of the country. He has even performed abroad during the World Youth Day festivities in the Philippines and a Marian convention in Apia, Samoa.

Bernie and his wife, Loretta, have two little girls, Chantal and Rachelle. Bernie is blessed to be able to do music ministry full-time. He is the music director for Saint Mary's Life Teen in Dedham, MA and the youth mass at Saint Thomas Moore in Braintree. Two days a week he teaches inner city Haitian children general music at Saint Matthew's school in Dorchester. He is very involved with the Archdiocese of Boston as a Youth Minister, directing retreats and training youth ministry teams. Bernie is also the music minister for "Little Audrey Santo - A Silent Soul". He spends the rest of his time writing and is planning a regional tour.