Their Album, 'Reason to Believe' is to be released on 1 November.

Brian Martin, from the Hawke's Bay, brought the two singers together.

In April 2011 he was in New York. He woke in the early hours and remembered that the Breakers had played the final of the Trans-Tasman NBL basketball championship. Interested in knowing the outcome, through the internet he tuned into NZ radio for the final score.

While waiting he heard Jim Sutton reviewing the first album of artist Janice Bateman. Brian thought that her voice came through with such quality and clarity that he was inspired to send her an email. That was the beginning of' 'Reason to Believe'.

When Brian got home he brought Fr Chris and Janice together to look at the possibility their working together.

"I wasn't sure about being involved in the project given my vocation, style and previous recordings. I am more at ease with the behind the scenes approach." says Fr. Chris.

"This particular project is a bit more out there but Brian assured me he would keep all that in mind."

Janice and Chris recorded the album in January of this year in Orewa with Mike McCarthy at his studio. She had recorded her first album with him and Chris had recorded the single 'You raise me up' with Mike in 2005.

Reason to Believe is an album of duets and solos, including timeless classics such as Flying Without Wings, Bridge over Troubled Water, Smile, In the Arms of an Angel, Amazing Grace and Sailing

Janice Bateman

Christchurch singer Janice Bateman's debut Album "Here I am" rose quickly to number 5 on the NZ charts and won immediate acclaim. She was voted the Female Artist of the Year at the Variety Artists of New Zealand awards.

Fr Chris Skinner

Chris is a Marist priest. He began writing his own songs from the age of 16 and recorded his first album in 1990. On average he has produced an album every two years since then and sees his music as an integral part of his priesthood.

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Fr Skinner was one of the lead in acts for female composer and singing sensation Carole King and the Bee Gee's legend, Barry Gibb.

Chris told the crowd that living last year on the adjacent hill at the International Marist Novitiate, he heard Rod Stewart and wondered what it would be like to sing at the Mission Concert.

"I lived here for five years, training for priesthood and one year on the hill 'over there', and I never imagined I'd be standing here singing", he told an enthusiastic and swelling crowd of around 5,000.

Chris will shortly release a joint album, with a Christchurch based singer, Janice Bateman.

The album is called "Reason to Believe".

Executive Producer Brian Martin told CathNews some of the tracks are well known but there are also some original works as well.

"It has some truly beautiful music with underlying messages that I think all listeners will identify with and relate to, whatever their circumstances," he said.

"The real messages in life are not announced to you, they are discerned", Martin said.

Martin is clear in his view that instant responses to music are the stuff of rock music and that real life messages require subtlety.

"It's about engaging with people when they don't want to listen to a sermon, and Chris does this so well with his music", he said.

Martin says 'Reason to Believe', to be released shortly, is worth waiting for.

"'Reason to Believe' brings out so many layers, so many 'reasons' to believe, Martin said.

"Belief in each other, God, love, life, pleasantness, a positive attitude" are just a few he said.

"With Janice and Chris' album, 'Reason to Believe' "People can take their own layer", said Martin.

As well as listening to Chris Skinner and the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra, a well behaved crowd of 20,000 enjoyed the hits of Barry Gibb and Carole King.

Mission Concert organiser Gary Craft said preliminary preparations are already under way for the 2014 Concert.