Michael Joncas

Reverend Father

Michael Joncas
Priest of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Photograph of Father Michael Joncas, a 74-year-old white man with grey/white hair. He is smiling. He is wearing white and red vestments and a portable microphone.
Previous postsProfessor, University of St. Thomas
Professor, St. Paul Seminary
Professor, St. John's University
Orders
OrdinationMay 31, 1980
by John Roach
Personal details
Born (1951-12-21) December 21, 1951 (age 74)
OccupationComposer and Liturgist
EducationNazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary
St. John Vianney Seminary
University of Notre Dame
Pontifical Liturgical Institute

Jan Michael Joncas (born December 21, 1951) is an American Catholic priest, liturgical theologian, and composer of contemporary Catholic music. He is best known for his hymn "On Eagle's Wings".

Biography

Joncas was raised in Minneapolis, of Polish descent, attending Nazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary and St. John Vianney Seminary at the University of St. Thomas, earning a bachelor's degree in English there in 1975.

Joncas composed the hymn he is best known for, "On Eagle's Wings", following the death of a friend's father in the late 1970s. It has since been quoted by Joe Biden , the Bellied Up podcast and covered by Lana Del Rey.

He received a Master of Arts degree in liturgy from the University of Notre Dame in 1978 and went on to study at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome, earning both his licentiate and doctorate degrees there. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 31, 1980, by Archbishop John Roach. Following this, he taught at the University of St. Thomas, at the University of Notre Dame, and summer courses at the Saint John's School of Theology, also serving as a weekend assistant at parishes throughout the Archdiocese.

In 2003, Joncas was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome after noticing he lacked the strength to elevate the chalice at Mass. The residual effects of the disorder still prevent him from playing guitar, the instrument on which he composed "On Eagle's Wings".

In 2022, Joncas retired from active ministry and teaching but stated an intention to keep writing music.

Discography

Published works

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Lawson, Paul (June 1980). "SJV Alumni Ordained". Memorandum, Saint Paul Seminary. p. 2. Retrieved November 9, 2022. Ten St. John Vianney Seminary graduates of St. Thomas were ordained priests on May 31 in the St. Paul Cathedral. They were among 13 ordained by Archbishop John R. Roach. The alumni are the Rev. Messrs. John J. Bussmann, Dennis Dempsey, Joseph T. For- celle, Jan Michael Joncas, Joseph F. Kennedy, Thomas M. Kommers, Kevin McDonough, Kenneth Leo O'Hotto, John F. Sowada, and Michael John Stevens.
  2. ↑ "Michael Joncas". OCP. Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2017. Best known for popular songs like "On Eagle's Wings" and "I Have Loved You," Father Joncas is also a supremely gifted choral composer.
  3. 1 2 Mischke, Dale (December 22, 2021). "Singing the Lord's praises: Father Joncas looks back on his career". MyVillager. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Winterer, Jim. "When Thoughts are all you Have Left". Newsroom | University of St. Thomas. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  5. ↑ Subramanian, Courtney. "Biden's faith comes through in speech, quoting Catholic hymn and Bible verse". USA Today. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  6. ↑ Neale, Matthew (November 8, 2020). "Lana Del Rey covers 'On Eagle's Wings' in tribute to Biden victory". NME. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Fr. Jan Michael Joncas | Theology". cas.stthomas.edu. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Catholic Studies | College of Arts and Sciences | University of St. Thomas". Archived from the original on April 30, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 Spirit, The Catholic (September 16, 2022). "Seven recently retired priests look back — and ahead". TheCatholicSpirit.com. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  10. ↑ ""On Eagle's Wings": The simple origin of the song that makes the world cry". America Magazine. December 28, 2017. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  11. ↑ Skogrand, Brant. "'On Eagle's Wings' Composer to Retire". Lumen. University of St. Thomas. Retrieved April 29, 2026.