“We are ready!” beamed Filipina Papal Choir conductress Joy Santos as she, together with the 120 members of the choir wraps up one of their practice sessions, inspiring confidence to the entire choir.
Santos had been handpicked by the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia’s Fr. Michael Sullivan who heads the Papal Choir Committee days after the Pope’s visit to the UAE was announced. “After 2 days na pinublish sa mga news na darating si Pope, I received a call from Fr. Michael that they were inviting me to lead the choir. Yung ma-receive ko lang yung invitation to lead the choir means that they trust me to put everything for this.”
The Filipina conductress shared that Filipinos coming from different parts of the UAE from choirs of various parishes form the majority of the Papal choir. “Filipinos are the majority in the Papal Choir, followed by Arabs, and then Indians and then the rest are mixed,” shares Santos.
Singing hymns of praise from the heart
While Santos had been leading grand choirs for high masses at St. Mary’s in Dubai for more than 10 years, this would be the first time that she will lead a choir at a historic event. “Parang nagflashback lahat sa akin na parang that time na yung mga prayers ko parang feeling ko walang natutupad, yun pala mas higit pa doon ang ma-re-receive ko,” said Santos.
Now during their practices, Santos sees to it that each and every choir member conveys the lyrics that the masses will feel from the bottom of their hearts. “I see to it na whatever it is on the lyrics, I want them to feel and sing it from their hearts,” shares Santos.
The choir will be singing a variety of hymns, mostly in English, with an Arabic hymn during the communion and Latin songs, including the famous hymn titled ‘Prayer of St. Francis’ where this year’s theme ‘Make me a Channel of Your Peace’ comes from.
Santos is filled with gratitude not just for the opportunity to lead the choir for the Papal Mass, but moreso for the leadership of the UAE for making this momentous event possible: “Nagpapasalamat ako na binigyan ng gobyerno ng UAE ng chance for this Year of Tolerance na yung friendship between Muslims and Christians ay nananaig pa rin sa bawat isa. Nakakaproud bilang isang katolikong galing sa Pilipinas na mag represent ng mga faithful dito sa UAE.”
The Papal Visit marks 1st visit of a Pope to the MENA region. Themed ‘Make Me a Channel of Your Peace’, the visit is a positive response of the pontiff and the Vatican to the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the UAE.
In line with the UAE’s ‘Year of Tolerance’ the visit is part of the celebrations of the ‘International Interfaith Meeting on Human Fraternity’.
Pope Francis’ full itinerary in the UAE:
Sunday, February 3
1:00 PM – Departure by plane from Rome/Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10:00 PM – Arrival at the Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Official Welcome
Monday, February 4
12:00 PM – Welcome Ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi
12:20 PM – Official Visit to the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince in the Presidential Palace
5:00 PM – Private meeting with the members of the Muslim Council of Elders at Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6:10 PM – Inter-religious Meeting at the Founder’s Memorial
Discourse of the Holy Father
Tuesday, February 5
9:15 AM – Visit in private to the Cathedral
10:30 AM – Santa Messa in Zayed Sports City — Homily of the Holy Father
12:40 PM – Farewell Ceremony at the Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1:00 PM – Departure by plane to Rome
5:00 PM – Arrival at the Rome/Ciampino International Airport
