RVA Mandarin Service to Celebrate 50 Years with Sacred Music Concert Series in Malaysia

Radio Veritas Asia’s (RVA) Mandarin Service will mark its 50th anniversary with a three-day Sacred Music Concert Series in Malaysia from July 31 to August 2, bringing together Chinese-speaking Catholics and sacred music enthusiasts across the country to celebrate faith through music.

The concert series will also commemorate the 12th anniversary of the Veritas Cup Global Chinese Hymn Composition Contest, an initiative that has promoted the creation of original Chinese sacred music since 2014.

The concerts will be held in three dioceses across Malaysia: the Diocese of Malacca, the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, and the Diocese of Penang. Each program will begin at 7:00 p.m.

The first concert will take place on July 31 at the Church of St. Mary, Ayer Salak, in the Diocese of Malacca. The series will continue on August 1 at The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, before concluding on August 2 at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Penang, a major Catholic center in northern Malaysia.

The programs will feature original sacred compositions from previous editions of the Veritas Cup Global Chinese Hymn Composition Contest. The hymns will be performed by composers and Catholic evangelization singers, using music as a means to proclaim the Gospel and share the joy and hope of Christian faith.

For five decades, RVA’s Mandarin Service has served Chinese-speaking communities across Asia and beyond through radio broadcasts, digital platforms, and new media initiatives. The service has accompanied listeners in their spiritual journey while promoting communication and collaboration among Churches throughout the region.

The Veritas Cup Global Chinese Hymn Composition Contest, launched in 2014, has contributed to the growth of Chinese sacred music by encouraging composers to create faith-inspired works. Over the past 12 years, the contest has supported evangelization efforts, nurtured musical talents within the Chinese-speaking Catholic community, and enriched liturgical and pastoral life.

The organizers have invited Catholics in Malaysia and beyond, as well as those interested in sacred music, to join the celebrations and experience the role of music in strengthening faith and building community.

The events will serve as both a celebration of RVA Mandarin Service’s 50 years of evangelization ministry and a moment to look ahead toward the future of Chinese-language pastoral communication and faith formation in Asia.