Young Indians of UAE make dance video on WYD theme song

By Robin Gomes

Young expatriates of Indian origin in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have come out with their own version of a video in English on the official theme song of the World Youth Day that takes place in Panama in a month's time. 

Young people from around the world are converging on Panama City for the Catholic Church’s World Youth Day (WYD) January 22-27, 2019, on the theme: “I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk 1:38). 

Pope Francis is scheduled to join the event from January 23.

The official WYD theme song in Spanish, “Hágase en mi Según tu Palabra' (May it be done to me according to your word” is written and composed by Abdiel Jiménez was written and composed by Abdiel Jiménez, a catechist and psalmist from the Cristo Resucitado parish in San Miguelito, Panamá.

There is also an English version of the WYD, with lyrics translated from Spanish by Maltese-born priest Father Rob Galea.

The UAE-based MasterPlan Band has brought out its own version of the video with choreography by local youth, George Benny, a member of the band told Vatican News.   The Catholic band that is part of the Holy See-approved Jesus Youth (JY) worldwide movement that began in India, had made a similar video on the theme of the last WYD in Krakow, Poland, 2016.

Benny said that most of the instrumental arrangements were home recorded, with a few acoustic guitars, the ukulele and vocals done in the studio.  The various sequences of the video were shot in the premises of St Mary's Catholic Church Dubai and the mountains of Fujairah.

MasterPlan sought the cooperation of the dance troupe of St. Mary’s Dubai Young Adults Ministry to choreograph the song, engaging the local teens of JY Teens and Youth ministries.

The final video, posted on FaceBook and Youtube by WYD Communications, is making its round on the social media.

Benny said that what impressed him more than the success of the video was the way the various sectors and groups came together to make it happen.  

“We have seen the song and the dance moves recreated elsewhere across the world on Instagram videos, and we hope it inspires many to use their talents for the mission of the Church and the glory of God,” Benny added.

A week after the WYD in Panama, Pope Francis will fly to UAE itself on a 3-day visit.  It is most likely that MasterPlan is already at work trying to churn out another video on the February 3-4 papal visit whose theme is, “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace”.