Catholic diocese searches for its own 'Idol' star

Caroline Mains, who holds a degree in neuroscience, dreams of being a physician's assistant and maybe a physician one day.

But first things first.

On Saturday, the South Tampa singer will compete for a chance to be the next "Catholic Idol" in a statewide contest sponsored by God Squad Communications, an Archdiocese of Miami ministry that evangelizes through the media.

"I've always had a passion for music," says Mains, who works in the medical assistance department at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa. "Medicine is important, but music has played a big role in helping me grow spiritually. It's really helped my prayer life."

This is the third Voice of an Angel contest - patterned after television's immensely popular "American Idol" - and the first time it opened to contestants outside the Miami diocese.

Mains, a 2008 graduate of The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va., is among 40 contestants from the state's seven Catholic dioceses selected from tryouts this summer around the state.

They will each be given 90 seconds to convince a panel of judges and a live audience that she or he deserves the Catholic Idol crown, which comes with a recording contract.

That competition is at Rock the Universe, a two-day Christian rock festival next weekend at Universal Studios in Orlando. Those who want to support their favorite contestant will have to purchase a ticket. Prices start at $50.

About two dozen Idol-wannabes in the Diocese of St. Petersburg showed up for a July 19 audition at Bethany Retreat Center in Lutz. They each sang two songs of their choice a cappella before three judges. Seven Tampa Bay area contestants, including Mains, were called back for the runoff at Rock the Universe.

One had to drop out. Another switched to the Diocese of Naples, since she is attending college in that area.

Besides Mains, other winners and their parishes include: Megan Ference, Incarnation in Tampa; Jacob Rosado, Mary Help of Christians in Tampa; Jacqui Urbuteit, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Tampa; and Jenelle Vinachi, St. Jerome in Largo.

"I'm not trying to milk your readers, but this is truth. Some of the best talent we heard this summer came out of the St. Petersburg diocese," says Chris Wills, Voice of an Angel executive producer and one of the judges.

After Saturday's competition, the list of Catholic Idol hopefuls will be pared. Then each diocese will sponsor its own series of weekly elimination contests, to be decided by online voting and the judges. The competition between the last two St. Petersburg diocese hopefuls will be Dec. 11 at a location to be announced. That is the only local competition open to spectators.

That winner will travel to Miami for the finale from Dec. 21 to 23. One winner will emerge victorious as the state's Voice of an Angel. A "Passion and Resurrection Tour" featuring the winner and six runners-up will travel to each diocese for concerts every Saturday during the spring 2010 Lenten season.

The winner also will be the highlight of a "Voice of an Angel" CD produced by God Squad Communications.

"It opens a lot of opportunities," Wills says. This summer, the 2007 winner went to Los Angeles to record with a Grammy Award-winning producer.

Mains, who performed with a contemporary Christian band in college, says she is not thinking that far ahead. She just wants to make it past Saturday.

She plans to sing a snippet of Michael W. Smith's "Draw Me Close." At least this time, she's got a chance to prepare.

"My mom found out about the last competition the day before when she read about it in the paper," Mains says. "I just got up on that Sunday, picked two songs and gave it my best."