“The Singing Priest” Joins Academy Students and Teachers for a Rosary and Some Questions

On Tuesday, May 26, Fr. Rob Galea joined Academy students and teachers on Google Meet to pray the rosary and answer some questions. I invited him to come join us on Instagram, thinking that this world-famous priest wouldn’t have time, but it was worth a shot. He prayed a rosary with us, and then answered our questions. “I loved being on the Google Meet and having the opportunity to pray the rosary with Fr. Rob Galea. I was first unsure of how it was going to go, but it couldn’t have gone better. It was amazing to hear what he had to say. He also played for the people at the Google Meet one of his original songs. My mom was also on the Google Meet with me, and she loved him too. She thought it was really amazing how he got up at 6am in Australia [4pm in Tampa] to pray with us,” said freshman Bella Hifko. 

We prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries because it was a Tuesday in Florida (and the Sorrowful Mysteries are prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays), and Fr. Rob had special reflections for each of them.  For the fifth Sorrowful Mystery, part of his reflection was, “God loves us not because we are good. God loves us because he is good. And we can see this in the cross. Let us approach, knowing that he loves us. Just imagine Jesus telling you that he loves you, that he has forgiven all of your sins.” 

“Yesterday’s experience with Fr. Rob Galea was incredible! The way he spoke about his ministry to the brokenhearted, the ill, those who are suffering, and those who have never encountered Christ opened my eyes to the love God has for us, especially when we are most broken. He especially touched on this as we prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries of the rosary with him. These were especially powerful for me because it served as a reminder that no matter what sufferings we are enduring, Christ is right there by our side, holding our hand through all of it, surrounding us with His never ending love,” said senior Sofia Tweed. 

Right before praying the “Hail Holy Queen,” he surprised us by playing one of his original songs, “At the Foot of the Cross” live. 

“Fr. Rob’s reflection and stories were very touching. He explained the rosary in a way I had never heard before as he related to Jesus’s pain and struggles to our own. [“At the Foot of the Cross”]  was so beautiful and touching. It was such a great experience,” said freshman Mary Grace Nash. 

When asked questions, Fr. Rob gave inspiring answers. He spoke about his life before knowing Jesus, how he came to know Jesus, and his ministry today. When I asked if he ever had anxiety before going onstage to sing or speak, he surprised everyone by stating that he has much anxiety before standing up in front of people. 

“Every time I get on stage, I feel like I am going to get sick . . . Even though I suffer from anxiety, even though I am afraid, I do not let my fear control me. Now, my band knows how horribly anxious I get, to the point where I get anxiety attacks, and I’m pacing, and I need people to calm me down. But I do it anyway. I don’t let my fear tell me what to do . . . Do it scared. If you are afraid, don’t wait for the fear to go away. Do it in your fear,” he said.

“Fr. Rob Galea is one of those people who radiates pure joy—a joy he finds in serving God and others through his music and his ministry across the world. His joy […] was contagious; every person left the Google Meet smiling,” said senior Megan Corrigan. 

“Getting the chance to talk to Fr. Rob was better than I could have asked for! His words and the way he spoke about Jesus made me feel really special. I had the chance to ask him a question about if he ever looks back and wonders what his life would have been like if he didn’t become a priest, and it was really comforting knowing that even with so much love for Jesus, he still wonders ‘What if?’ I know I relate to that in many aspects of my life, and it made me feel not alone,” said junior Olivia Scarpo. 

The interview is being released in pieces on Instagram from @firedupahn. To see more of Fr. Rob’s personal journey and his mission, follow him on Youtube, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and Facebook.