Joanne Oberreuter has been playing music since early childhood when her mother, a professional musician, taught her to play and sing. At the age of 18 she entered a religious order and was asked to play guitar for Mass and the Liturgy of Hours. From that time on she dedicated her musical gifts to the Lord. After 3 years she left the religious order, completed a BA in theology, married and later got an MA in Scripture. She and her husband have four grown children. Her husband is a contractor and she works with him in real estate. She also teaches a four year Scripture program in Southwest Washington.

Joanne's music weaves together marriage, family life, the sacraments and Scripture forming a beautiful tapestry of family spirituality. Her first recording, "Forever: A Promise of Love" published by Oregon Catholic Press in 1986 is a collection of songs for Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals. It is now available on CD through this website. Her second collection, "Dandelions" is a family and children's celebration of faith. It gathers ordinary household images and relates them to the sacraments and scriptures. The waters of wash machines, showers and kitchen sinks remind us of the waters of Baptism. Medicine chests remind us of God's healing sacraments. And parents remind us that God loves like a mama and papa.

Joanne's music dots the landscape of Catholic family media. Her songs play on many Catholic radio stations and can be heard each day by children who log onto EWTNkids website (see directions on More Great Websites). She has provided opening music for the Archdiocese of Portland Catholic Family Fair and has recently taped two sessions for the Catholic Familyland TV program, "In His Love" with Marty Rotella. A review of her "Dandelions" CD was published in the Our Sunday Visitor magazine, Catholic Parent. Joanne continues to write and perform music for family religious education gatherings. She is presently writing a series of meditations entitled "Simple Lessons from Bible Families."

It is Joanne's hope that all who listen to her music will be encouraged in their vocation to family life. In spite of the many stresses and strains we face, she believes we can trust God to give us the grace to truly be, in the words of Pope John Paul II, a "church in miniature."