RSSA young priest in central China has recently released his first music VCD, which includes a song he composed to encourage a bishop who has been under house arrest for 16 months.
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| Father Dominic Zan Yiqian, 33, holding his first VCD. |
Well-known for his music and singing, Father Dominic Zan Yiqian of Zhouzhi diocese in Shaanxi province, said he dedicates the song to 40-year-old Bishop Joseph Wu Qinjing.
The Chinese government does not recognize the bishop´s episcopal status as he was secretly ordained Bishop of Zhouzhi with Vatican approval. Since November 2007, authorities have confined him to a minor seminary in the provincial capital Xi´an.
Father Zan, 33, said he is able to see the bishop once a week when he goes to teach music in the seminary in neighboring Xi´an diocese.
“Hello Bishop,” (Zhujiao, Ninhao) is the first among the 12 Chinese Catholic hymns in Father Zan´s karaoke music VCD, titled “Praise the Lord and Sing His Grace” (Zanzhu Song´en), released in late February.
“Seeing him suffer from the loss of freedom and from the chaos in our diocese, I hope to give him some encouragement and consolation through my song,” Father Zan said, adding that this was “the only thing” he could do for the prelate.
Though the song does not mention the bishop´s name, the priest said local Catholics and those familiar with the situation of Zhouzhi diocese would understand. A verse goes:
Frustrations sharpen your ability
Thorns test your fortitude
May you face hardships with iron will
Lead the faithful to join our Savior´s banquet.
Another verse goes:
Gusts and frosts test your loyalty
Rain and snow challenge your virtues
May you carry on undauntedly
Endeavor to fulfill your ministry,
and lead clerics to build the Kingdom on earth.”
Father Zan said he presented the VCD to Bishop Wu immediately after it was released. “The bishop was happy when he listened to the song.”
According to the priest, Catholics quickly learnt to sing this song, and some were even moved to tears. “How dearly they love the diocese and the bishop!” Father Zan exclaimed.
Some other bishops in the mainland are also going through hardships because of their faith, he said, adding that he hopes the song will give them spiritual support.
The other 11 songs in VCD are popular local hymns. “The VCD promotes Church music. People can follow the lyrics and sing the songs at home,” he said.
Father Zan said the album was his first major effort in getting involved in the Church´s music ministry. He said Church music was developing too slowly in China and regrets that some parishes sing secular pop songs during liturgies.
Hopefully the 1,000 copies of the VCD, delivered to other dioceses, would attract more Catholics to join the Church´s music ministry, he said.
Father Zan recorded the VCD with postgraduate students from the Xi´an Music Academy, his alma mater, at a recording studio.
The priest studied vocal music at the academy in 2005 after graduating from the Shaanxi major seminary. He has taken part in singing competitions and performed in concerts.
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