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By Jude Atemanke
Nairobi, 19 May, 2025 / 5:45 pm (ACI Africa).
Readers of the book, “The Catholic Liturgical Singing: Its Nature and Approach”, which was launched on May 13, are to gain insights into sacred music and its essential role in the Catholic liturgy, the reviewer of the new publication has said.
In the 120-page book, the author, Fr. Petri Assenga, presents “the unique nature of sacred music within the liturgical setting, distinguishing it from other forms of religious music. The distinction between mere religious music and the sacred music that embodies the liturgical texts and settings is articulated with clarity and depth.”
In his remarks about the book during the May 13 launch, Fr. Gerald M. Kimario praised the book’s structure, purpose, and theological depth.
Fr. Gerald M. Kimario. Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)
Fr. Kimario emphasized that the book “provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the essential characteristics of sacred music” and serves as “a crucial resource for church musicians.”
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Structured into four chapters, the book is preceded by a general introduction and concluded with a final synthesis.
The Tanzanian-born member of the Apostles of Jesus Missionaries (AJ) noted that the book explores “a profound intersection of faith, tradition, and artistic expression,” asserting that liturgical singing is “a fundamental expression of the Church’s prayer.”
Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)
He underscored the importance of the book’s call to embrace sacred music not just as art, but also as “an essential component of worship” that “connects the ancient and the ever new” and “inspires a more profound engagement with the sacred mysteries we celebrate.”
The Tanzanian Catholic Priest went on to highlight the content of the book Chapters that Paulines Publications Africa (PPA) published.
Titled “Sacred Music in the Church’s Liturgical Tradition”, chapter one provides biblical and historical foundations for sacred music, referencing both Old and New Testament texts as well as teachings from early Church Fathers like St. Augustine of Hippo.
Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)
The chapter also explores Gregorian chant and polyphonic music, while referencing key Church documents such as Tra le Sollecitudini (1903), Musicae Sacrae (1955), and the Second Vatican Council’s Sacrosanctum Concilium.
Chapter two focuses on the 1967 Vatican II instruction on music in the liturgy, Musicam Sacram. The chapter identifies 15 key issues, including the definition of sacred music, its role in supporting liturgical participation, and the importance of forming choirs that are both musically and spiritually developed.
Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)
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In his May 13 remarks, Fr. Kimario lamented the lack of spiritual formation for many choir members. He said that the newly launched book addresses this gap by offering a roadmap for choir development and liturgical engagement.
He warned against the infiltration of secular and popular religious music into Catholic worship, noting that “there is much confusion today in the liturgical singing due to some ignorance of what is specifically required for such a noble and sacred function.”
Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)
Fr. Kimario also cautioned against the uncritical adoption of songs from other denominations and underscored the need for vigilance and adherence to Church norms. “The book addresses such dangers and directs musicians accordingly,” he said during the book launch at the Apostles of Jesus Institute of Philosophy and Theology in Langata, Nairobi.
He noted that “whether you are a musician or not, as long as you are a pastoral agent, we are supposed to (be) hand-in-hand with the Bible.”
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Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)
Fr. Kimario encouraged all pastoral workers, especially those involved in liturgical music, to acquire the book, stressing that it offers not just theoretical knowledge, but also practical guidelines rooted in the Magisterium of the Church.
On his part, the author of the book underscored the need for the Church to return to the foundational principles of Catholic liturgical singing. “This is a rare field for most authors, and as pastoral and liturgical animators, we must add value to what we do,” Fr. Assenga said.
Fr. Petri Assenga. Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)
Drawing on over three decades of experience in liturgical formation, choir direction, and theological education, the Tanzanian-born AJ member warned against the unchecked inclusion of popular religious songs in the liturgy, stressing that “not every nice religious song should appear in the liturgy.”
“Singing is one of the most effective means of evangelization. It teaches us as it refreshes us… thus, as recommended by the Church, solemn celebration of the liturgy through singing is highly recommended,” he said.
In his input during his book launch, Fr. Assenga looked back at how he was inspired to write the book, highlighting his interactions with choir members and his concern about what he termed a “naive choice of songs” in Catholic worship and liturgical celebrations.
Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)
“What is Catholic is sometimes obscured by the naive choice of songs in the Church. Someone thinks this is the best, and the people, because it is said, follow naively. Then we create naive children. As a result, you become a naive Church,” he lamented.
Fr. Assenga noted that “poor liturgical formation, especially in music, affects the entire spiritual formation of Catholics. Singing is a form of prayer. So, we have to be very careful in the way we sing.”
He called on the leadership of Seminaries, houses of Religious formation, and other Catholic institutions to take liturgical music formation seriously.
Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)
The Tanzanian AJ member said, “Liturgical music has to be taught in the Seminaries, in the houses of study for Religious, in the Novitiates, and in the Catholic institutes of higher learning. Likewise, Catholic music tradition has to be taught right from an early age… in the families and in our elementary, primary, and high schools.”
Fr. Assenga encouraged readers of his newly launched book to embrace it as a pastoral and educational tool, saying, “I give it to you as a gift. We need to know our liturgical tradition and be proud of it.”
Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)
Also speaking during the May 13 book launch, Sr. Olga Massango of the marketing department of the PPA congratulated Fr. Assenga for authoring the book. She highlighted the book’s significance as the first of its kind in their publishing catalogue.
Sr. Olga Massango. Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)
“Publishing this book underlines the irreplaceable role of the song in an oral dominant culture,” Sr. Massango said, and added, “Catholic Liturgical Singing in Africa serves as a profound expression of faith, deeply intertwined with the continent’s rich cultural heritage.”
The Mozambican member of the Pious Society of the Daughters of St. Paul (FSP/Pauline Sisters/Daughters of St. Paul) traced the roots of this liturgical expression to Vatican II’s encouragement for the inculturation of local cultures into Catholic practices.
Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)
“In some regions in Africa, with the high literacy rates, music becomes an essential instrument for catechesis,” she noted, adding that “liturgical songs, often based on scriptures, are a support aid in teaching Christian doctrines and values.”
Sr. Massango also acknowledged with appreciation the contributions of the AJ Institute as a “pastoral tour in the church” and invoked the words of Pope St. Paul VI, when he visited Uganda in July 1969 in what is acclaimed as the first African visit by a Roman Pontiff, “Africans, you will be missionaries to your people, and I would add today and beyond.”
Credit: Paulines Publications Africa (PPA)
“May God bless you all on this day dedicated to our Lady of Fatima,” Sr. Massango implored in reference to the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, marked on May 13.
Available on Paulines Publishers online shop, the newly launched book costs US$7.50.
Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.
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