Throughout 2021, Singapore has been celebrating 200 years of Christianity on the island nation with a year of special events and prayer known as Catholic200SG.
Now, as the year comes to an end, the Church in Singapore has produced a special song to celebrate the history of Catholicism in Singapore and promote the theme of Catholic200SG: Ignite and Shine with Faith.
BENJAMIN MAO
Composer, “Ignite & Shine”
'In the first verse we are able to see how we actually celebrate these 200 years, how our founding missionaries came to Singapore and actually then built the Church that we have today. The song, also then highlights what ignite and shine is all about.'
-'200 years of faith was sown when our founding missionaries built the place we now call home.'
The song's music video highlights significant Catholic sites throughout Singapore, and invites the audiences to reflect on how they may be called to contribute to the Church.
FR. DERRICK YAP, OFM
Lead Vocalist, “Ignite & Shine”
'I think that is essentially our call as Christians. Our early missionaries came, despite difficulties from far away lands, and they gave their all, because they've been touched by Christ and called by Christ, so right now with our comfortable lives in Singapore, then, what are we called to do, do we know that we have a personal vocation?'
-'We will deepen, and discern, to you we consecrate, to be a witness to our faith, to rejoice and celebrate.'
Catholic200SG will end with a nation-wide festival and concurrent Masses celebrated throughout the country. Composer Benjamin Mao hopes that his song can be a reminder of the joy of the faith, and introduce the next phase of Catholicism in Singapore.
BENJAMIN MAO
Composer, “Ignite & Shine”
'I think that for Catholic200SG, as we reach the end of the year, it's truly about Christ and truly about celebrating. Our faith is not a faith that is in sin, it's not in sorrow, it's not in fear, but truly our faith is one that rejoices, rejoices in who we are as a community and who we are as a Church. Hopefully the song doesn't close the year but really starts the next 200 years.'
Singapore's 300,000 Catholics will sing and dance to bring Catholic200SG to an end before looking for how to build upon the Church's rich history in their country.
JM
