In 1995, David Haas, Marty Haugen and Rev. Michael Joncas all received the St. Thomas Distinguished Alumni Award. Twenty-three years later, the three musical artists are reuniting to receive the Pax Christi Award from Saint John’s University.

According to Saint John’s, the Pax Christi award “recognizes those who have devoted themselves to God by working in the tradition of Benedictine monasticism to serve others and to build a heritage of faith in the world.” The Pax Christi is the highest honor Saint John’s offers.

“It’d be the equivalent of winning the Oscar, like the Lifetime Achievement award,” Joncas said. “They’re recognizing contributions that people have made to the church or to the world that are significant.”

Joncas is currently an artist in residence and research fellow in Catholic studies at St. Thomas after teaching as a professor for 30 years. Joncas now dedicates most of his time to composing music, which he started doing in grade school. He grew up in a performing family and began composing religious music when in the seminary.

He has penned an alma mater song for St. Thomas as well as the hymn that welcomed President Julie Sullivan when she became president, but his most widely known work is the hymn, “On Eagle’s Wings.”

“The song has been a really good thing, because lots of people know about it,” Joncas said. “It’s also a little bit limiting, because people think that’s the only style I write in.”

David Haas also grew up in a musical family, and began composing music when he transferred to St. Thomas his junior year of college.

“I started piano when I was four and studied voice, guitar, trumpet and violin for a short while,” Haas said. “Music was everywhere and so I knew I wanted to be involved with music.”

Haas currently has many projects going on, including traveling for concerts, workshops, retreats and missions. He also has released multiple CDs and books and was nominated for a Grammy award in 1991 for his album, “I Shall See God.”

Marty Haugen is also a composer and recording artist, and began his career in music by playing piano, guitar, trombone, violin, organ and percussion as he was growing up. In 1972, he was about to join the Peace Corps but instead took a job at a parish that was looking for a musician so he could be with his girlfriend Linda, who is now his wife.

The three all met at St. Thomas in 1980 and bonded over their musical talents. The trio has performed together many times since then.

“When we were first starting composing, we would gather together once a month or so in those early days and we would bring our new songs and critique each other’s work,” Haas said. “That was a good was for us to grow as composers, but also our friendship grew more and more.

According to Haas, they are now “retired” from performing as a trio, but continue to work on their own projects. To commemorate their retirement, they released one last CD titled, “With Gratitude.”

Solveig Rennan can be reached at renn6664@stthomas.edu.