Cueing up faith and dance music

Roman Catholic priest Guilherme Peixoto playing a set, together with the Portuguese Army Symphonic Band, during Army Day celebrations in Viana do Castelo, northern Portugal. — AP

GUILHERME Peixoto, a village priest in northern Portugal, has been busy this month celebrating Masses at his two parishes, presiding over remembrances for the dead – and preparing the electronic music set for his next international DJ gig.

What started nearly two decades ago as a novel way to fundraise for the local churches has become essential to the ministry of this 49-year-old Catholic priest in a rapidly secularising continent where religious practice is dropping fast – especially among young people.