In his comment on May 13th, Fr. Kimario lamented the lack of spiritual formation among many choir members. He said the newly released book addresses this gap by providing a roadmap for choir development and liturgical involvement.
He warned against the invasion of secular and popular religious music into Catholic worship, noting that “there is a lot of confusion in liturgical songs today, due to some ignorance about what is particularly necessary for such noble and sacred functions.”
Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)
Father Kimario also warned of the critical adoption of songs from other denominations, highlighting the need for vigilance and compliance with the norms of the Church. “The book deals with such dangers and oversees the musicians accordingly,” he said during the release of the book “Apostles of Jesus' Philosophy and Theology in Langata, Nairobi.
He said, “Whether you're a musician or not, as long as you're an idyllic agent, we should be working with the Bible.”
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Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)
Father Kimario encouraged all pastoral workers, especially those involved in liturgical music, to master the book, emphasizing that it would provide not only theoretical knowledge but practical guidelines rooted in church magicians.
On his part, the book author emphasized the need for the church to return to the basic principles of Catholic liturgical songs. “This is an unusual field for most authors, and as idyllic animators, we have to add value to what we do,” Fr. Asenga said.
Father Petriacenga. Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)
The Tanzanian-born AJ member, who used his liturgical formation, choir orientation and more than 30 years of experience in theological education, warned against unchecking inclusion of religious songs popular in the liturgical, emphasizing that “not all lovely religious songs should appear in the liturgical.”
“Songs are one of the most effective means of evangelization. It teaches us because it resurrects us. Therefore, we strongly recommend the strict celebration of the liturgy through song, as the church recommends,” he said.
Fr. in his input on his book on sale. Reflecting on how he was inspired to write the book, Asenga highlighted his interactions with choir members and concerns about what he called “the naive choice of song” in his Catholic worship and liturgical celebrations.
Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)
“Catholicism is sometimes obscure by the simple choices of church songs. Someone thinks this is the best. It is said to last naively, so we create simple children. As a result, you become a simple church,” he lamented.
Father Asenga said, “The formation of poor liturgy, especially in music, affects the whole spiritual formation of Catholics. Singing is a form of prayer. So we must be very careful about how we sing.”
He called on leaders of seminaries, religious organizational homes and other Catholic institutions to take the musical composition of the liturgical ones seriously.
Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)
A member of Tanzania said, “Liturgical music must be taught in seminary, homes of religion, homes of religious studies, and Catholic higher education research. Similarly, Catholic music traditions must be taught in families, elementary schools and high schools from an early age.”
Father Assenga encouraged readers of the newly launched book to accept it as an idyllic and educational tool, saying, “I will give it to you as a gift. We must know the liturgical tradition and be proud of it.”
Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)
Also, during the book's release on May 13th, senior Orgama Coral in the marketing division of PPA congratulated Fr. Asenga wrote the book. She highlighted the importance of the book as the first of its kind in their publication catalogue.
Senior Orgasama Coral. Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)
“Publishing this book emphasizes the irreplaceable role of songs in oral and dominant cultures,” said Masang Sir, adding that “Catholic liturgical songs in Africa are deeply intertwined with the continent's rich cultural heritage and serve as a deep expression of faith.”
Mozambican members of the respectable association of the Daughter of St. Paul (Sister/Daughter of St. Paul) traced the roots of this liturgical expression to encouragement for the transport of Vatican II's local culture into Catholic practice.
Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)
“In some parts of Africa, music becomes an essential tool for catexesis due to high literacy rates,” she said, adding, “often biblical liturgical songs are a helpful aid in teaching Christian doctrine and values.”
Masango Sir also recognized the contributions of the AJ Institute as “a idyllic tour in the church,” evoking the words of Pope St. Paul VI when he visited Uganda in July 1969, where he was praised as “Africans, you will become a missionary to the people of today.”
Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)
“May God bless this day, dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima,” the Masargo begged in connection with the East Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, marked May 13th.
Available at the Paulines Publishers Online Shop, the newly released book costs USD 7.50.
Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for communication in the Catholic Church. He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication from Bouia University in Cameroon. Currently, Jude is a journalist for ACI Africa.
