Vatican: Nigerian Youth Choir welcomes Synod at the Ecumenical Prayer Vigil.
Sr. Mary Judith Ezeogu, IHM – Vatican City.
The atmosphere during the Ecumenical Prayer Vigil, which was charged with long periods of reflection and silence, occasionally resounded with the joyous welcome and applause from the various Christian denominations gathered to pray in St Peter Square.
Singing in the presence of Pope Francis
Attending the vigil prayers were Pope Francis, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby and other leaders from different denominations invited to join the Pope in prayer, entrusting the work of the Synod on Synodality to the Holy Spirit.
The prayer vigil brought together Christian religious leaders and faithful from around the world in a Taizé-style of music, prayer, and hymns. Among the choirs participating was the Nigerian Youth Choir, complete in their elegant African attire.
A blend of African voices and instruments
The Nigerian Choir sang at intervals, as did all the choirs. They sang four songs before the prayer vigil began and two others during the main prayer vigil session. Their songs were blended with African instruments, saxophones and keyboards. The singing flowed in with the solemnity of the gathering.
Sr. Consolata Maria Ikeh of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ, told Vatican News how the Choir came to participate in the Vigil. She has been the Director of the Nigerian Youth Choir for three years.
It all started with an invitation from Bro. Luc Bourgoin of the Ecumenical and International Taizé Community, France. On his visits to different African chaplaincies based in Rome, Bro. Luc heard the Nigerian Youth Choir singing. He was so impressed that he invited them to represent the African continent at the Ecumenical Prayer Vigil in the Vatican.
“We accepted joyfully,” said Sr Consolata. She then collaborated with Fr. Claudio Sánchez, who was in charge of the singing at the Vigil.
The Nigerian Youth Choir members belong to Saints Simon and Jude Thaddeus Parish Torre Angela in Rome. They sing every second and last Sunday of the month. Fr. Ugochukwu Stophynus Anyanwu is the Parish Priest.
A student of Sacred Music
Sr. Ikeh, the Choir Director, is a Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, Rome student doing her first year in Direction of Choir and Composition. She is also a part-time student of the Pontifical Institute of St. Anselmo, where she takes courses in Liturgy.
“I was invited to help the Choir learn songs and teach them solfa notation. I also play the keyboard,” Sr. Ikeh said.
Following the invitation to sing at the Vigil, the Choir prepared hard to make it a reality. With enthusiasm and the desire to reflect the spirit of the Synod and truly represent Africa, they searched for songs from other African nations. They interpreted the music and began practising the songs for three to four hours every Saturday and some Sunday mornings before Mass. Although Nigerian nationals, they took pride in singing all songs correctly to make other members of other African communities feel part of the celebration. They sang in Igbo, KiSwahili and Hausa. The Choir also prepared songs from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo Brazzaville.
A call to be African Ambassadors
Asked about their reactions after participating in the Ecumenical Prayer Vigil, many choir members said they were elated to get close to Pope Francis and to sing in the presence of different religious world leaders. Others were overcome with emotion and tears, especially when, after the vigil, several African Bishops from Cameroon, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria and elsewhere congratulated them for their singing.
Days after the vigil, people have continued complimenting them and sharing clips of their singing on social media platforms.
The Ecumenical Prayer Vigil was a coming together of brothers and sisters in Christ from all walks of life as ‘Pilgrims of faith’ who gathered in Saint Peter Square to entrust to the Holy Spirit the assembly of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops currently taking place in the Vatican.
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