Neil Mah introducing the content of the new Hymnal
By Neil Mah
June 17 2022
KUALA LUMPUR – The Liturgical Music Committee (LMC) of the Episcopal Regional Liturgy Commission (ERLC) for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (CBCMSB) held two workshops on the new Sing Your Praise to God (SYPG) Hymnal on 8 June 2022.
Held in hybrid format at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre here, the first workshop took place in the morning, and was attended by 18 ERLC members physically. It coincided with their annual meeting also held here. Eighty-two clergy and religious from the Conference joined online through Google Meet platform.
The second workshop was held in the evening, which was attended physically by 9 ERLC members and 351 lay faithful from the Conference through Google Meet and YouTube platforms.
Neil Mah, a member of LMC, presented at both workshops, outlining the entire renewal process of the hymnal which began in 2014 mandated by CBCMSB. The objectives of the process are: (a) to review hymns in the former SYPG editions on their suitability for use at liturgical celebrations in conformity to the documents of the Second Vatican Council, and (b) to source for copyright permission for use.
Mah introduced participants to the content of the new Hymnal, and elaborated on the guiding principles adopted by the Committee in the review process.
At the end of both workshops, the Committee answered questions raised by the participants.
The workshop presentation for the lay faithful was recorded and is available for viewing on YouTube channel https://youtu.be/5td_pCYKL8c. Todate the recording has attracted more than 1,500 views.
LMC hoped these workshops would facilitate greater knowledge and awareness of the hymnal’s content and compilation process, and encouraged its full use at parishes throughout the Conference.
It also informed that the Hymnal only consists of hymns in the English language. Hymns in other languages would be reviewed in due time.
ERLC at its meeting has proposed a deadline by the end of this year to phase out the use of the former SYPG clip edition.
The new edition of SYPG is available at all dioceses in the Conference and has been in use since Lent 2021. It has become the official hymnal for CBCMSB to sing and worship God in spirit and in truth at every Mass, the source and summit of our Christian life
For further clarification on the new Hymnal, ERLC LMC can be contacted at the email: litmusicom@erlcmsb.org
