Uijeongbu diocese held what it billed as its first ”U-Festival” at the weekend to showcase the musical talents of local Catholic youths.

Some 500 people, young and old, and including priests and sisters, enjoyed the festival under a blue autumn sky at the Hanmaum Retreat Center in Uijeongbu, 20 kilometers northeast of Seoul.

Eight bands from parishes across the diocese took part.

“I was so nervous because we were first on stage, but once we started playing it was great fun,” said Taegon Andrew Kim Seung-hwan, whose band called Fiat came from Pyungnae parish.

Raphaela Choe Mi-hee, a singer in a band comprising members of the Baekseok-dong and Madu-dong churches, said her group had formed “to release an album of hymns on life last January.”

One of the songs they performed at the festival was written by her and was about her giving thanks to Jesus every day.

Members of the audience, including those not familiar with modern musical styles, said the quality of the music was excellent.

Joseph Park Bok-sik, 79, said “it was nice to see the passion the youths put into their performances.”

Anna Seo Ji-won, 15, attended the festival with her catechists.

“It was so good it’s made me want to join a band and participate next year.”

Festival organizer John Kim Seung-beom from the diocese’s education department said the event proved a great success and would likely be held again next year.

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