The Catholic bishops’ Christian Communications Center (CCC) has released its first ever liturgical music album to honor departed souls. The center’s audio-visual unit -- Banideepti (Light of the Word) -- produced the album called Amar Atma Koro Saron (Remember My Soul) which has 13 songs about life, death and eternal life. Matthew Deepak Bose, 72 a renowned Catholic musician directed the musical production that uses traditional and local instruments to bring out a feeling of faithful spiritually among listeners. Released on All Souls Day on November 2, the album has received rave reviews from Catholics so far. “I loved the songs on the album. Even though some of them are old, it was great to listen to them in a recording for the first time,” said Moni Corraya, 45, a housewife. Corraya, a choir leader at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church in Hashnabad in Dhaka added that the new album will help her choir members sing hymns correctly during liturgy because in the past they didn’t know the exact tune. “This is a moving album. The songs remind us of our mortality and that we will be judged on our deeds on Earth. It also helps us to remember our forefathers, pay homage to them and follow their example in our lives,” said Stephen Biswas, 50, from the Holy Cross Church in Luxmibazar in old Dhaka. The Episcopal Commission for Social Communications' executive secretary and center director, Father Joyanto S. Gomes, said they wanted to preserve traditional hymns in a modern way which had not been attempted before. “Thoughts of death and eternal life kindle our emotions. These hymns related to life and death, enrich our liturgy and will bring spiritual solace to Christians,” Fr Gomes said. He hopes the hymns will help people save their souls from a world of consumerism and sinfulness. Bose, the album’s director has the same view. “The music of self-consciousness is likely to change people who lead undisciplined and immoral lives, he said.”