Some background - I knew before I left for Europe that the Ragamuffins were going to be in Paris when I was there. Rick Elias and I emailed back and forth a couple of times trying to nail down the date and time...he just knew it was the 22nd or 23rd of June. Shawn (my brother) and I went to Notre Dame on the evening of the 22nd to find no concert. We decided then to leave and go to Bordeaux the next afternoon. Friday, while Shawn checked his email, I wandered over to Notre Dame only to find the Ragamuffins and Gabriele's Harp doing sound check. I stood and listened to them crank out some great 80's stuff, then Jimmy A went off stage briefly. I beckoned to him and reminded him that I was in Ben Pearson's seminar last summer at LegacyFest that he crashed. We talked about photography and stuff (i.e. what was I doing in Paris...) The program that evening included Mass and several other performers.

Shawn and I went in search of a cheap hotel room - not an easy feat in Paris in June. But we were successful. After grabbing sandwich fixin's at the supermarket, I left Shawn at the hotel and ventured back to Notre Dame. Walking from the Metro stop to the Cathedral, I could hear Rick singing (my memory is terrible). I was singing along while speed walking - another American asked me what was going on. After telling him, he said he may try to catch some of it. I continued on. The grounds of Notre Dame were packed!! I wormed my way to the front to get some pictures (I hope they turn out). I didn't get a set list or remember how the songs went since, for the most part, they were introduced in French. I do know that the crowd enjoyed it and that they sang along to several of the songs. The concert ended with "Emmanuel" which is the theme song for the Jubilee Celebration. Amazing song. As the crowd sang the chorus, the band left the stage. Worshipping there with that many folks was an experience I will not likely forget anytime soon. Jimmy said it was a dream come true for him to perform in a place like this. Wish I could go to Rome in August....