Brother Colin Smith


Br Colin Smith, liturgist and composer was undoubtedly one of Australia's best known and much loved Christian Brother. He died in 2005 aged 77.

Colin’s Mass Shalom and his three volumes of Responsorial Psalms are considered among the best liturgical music repertoire in Australian Catholic worship today, along with numerous other compositions from Sing to the Lord, and Christ Our Way, published by Willow Publishing.

Colin was a popular music workshop presenter, and coordinated the music for three papal visits to Australia, as well as taking his choir to Rome in 1996 to sing for the beatification of Blessed Edmund Rice. He also taught music to thousands of school children, and contributed to ABC Radio sacred music programs.

Following his death, Br Smith's Provincial Leader Br Laurie Needham wrote of the "wonderful period of liturgical study in Rome when he fell more deeply in love with the liturgy and began a love affair with Rome herself that called him back there for further years of teaching in the school that 'Europeanised' Colin himself profoundly".

Colin’s music and his memory lives on today especially via his beloved John Paul Singers choir which he founded in the eighties. Mass Shalom which has been completely revised and updated by Paul Mason. The new arrangement seamlessly integrates the new material with Colin's original composition. This setting has been recommended by the Australian Bishops for use in Australian parishes and schools.