Kuala Lumpur hosted the second concert of Radio Veritas Asia's (RVA) three-city Malaysian tour on August 1, bringing together Chinese Catholic hymn composers, musicians, and Church groups from Malaysia, Mainland China, and Taiwan to celebrate faith through sacred music.
The concert, held at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre, formed part of the Mandarin Service's celebration of its 50th broadcasting anniversary and the 12th anniversary of the Global Chinese Hymn Composition Contest.
Through original Chinese hymns, the event highlighted the contribution of sacred music to Catholic worship, faith formation, and evangelization among Chinese-speaking communities across Asia.
Fr. John Mi Shen, Executive Secretary of the Office of Social Communication of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences and Program Director of Radio Veritas Asia, said he hoped the concert would help participants encounter God through music.
"May every note tonight help us draw closer to God," Fr. Mi Shen said. "May we experience His love through sacred music and bring that love back to our families, parishes, and daily lives."
The concert also recalled the 50-year journey of RVA's Mandarin Service, which has accompanied generations of Chinese-speaking Catholics through radio and digital media and served as a platform connecting Chinese-speaking Catholic communities across Asia.
Fr. Felmar Fiel, SVD, General Manager of Radio Veritas Asia, thanked those who have supported the Mandarin Service throughout its five decades.
"The Mandarin Service of Radio Veritas Asia truly has a home because of you," he said, describing its history as a shared missionary commitment. "The road ahead still requires us to walk together and pass on this evangelizing mission to future generations."
The evening featured original compositions by winners and participants of the Global Chinese Hymn Composition Contest, with performances representing different musical styles and expressions of Christian faith. The audience joined in an atmosphere where prayer and music were closely intertwined.
During the intermission, Archbishop Julian Leow Beng Kim of Kuala Lumpur joined the celebration and congratulated the RVA Mandarin Service on its 50th anniversary. He encouraged participants to continue using media and sacred music in the service of the Church and the proclamation of the Gospel.
Launched 12 years ago, the Global Chinese Hymn Composition Contest has encouraged Chinese-speaking Catholics to compose original songs of faith while identifying and nurturing sacred music talents. Many of the hymns have subsequently been used in parish liturgies, faith formation programs, and evangelization initiatives.
The Kuala Lumpur concert was the second stop of the Malaysian tour, following the opening concert in Malacca on July 31. The tour highlights the growing contribution of Chinese-speaking Catholic communities to the Church's mission through sacred music.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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