First ever CD by bishop of Faisalabad released, to "feed the soul" of the faithful
by Shafique Khokhar
The album is titled "Yassu Bulata Hey" ("Jesus calls us"). Msgr. Joseph Arshad is the composer. Two concerts in Lahore and Faisalabad, Punjab province for launch. Professor of Faisalabad: "The CD is a tool that leads to prayer and a way to sustain the faith of believers"

Lahore (AsiaNews) - With two events celebrated in the cities of Lahore and Faisalabad (both in the Pakistani province of Punjab) the first album by Msgr. Arshad Joseph, bishop of the diocese of Faisalabad, produced by WAVE Studio was launched. Both events were attended by leaders of the ecclesiastical province, who praised the initiative for the promotion of Christian teachings in the social media age.

The CD, entitled "Yassu Bulata Hey" ("Jesus calls us"), was presented for the first time on July 25 in Lahore (see. Photo). It is a collaboration between Msgr. Arshad, composer, with singers Runa Lela, A. Nayyar, Javaiz Daniel, Benazir and Rome Carolyn. The album took six years to produce.

The launch ceremony began with a short prayer and continued with the public presentation of some songs of the CD. The choir of the sisters of St. Paul sang the song "Lahore ki kalisia" ("Church of Lahore"), spreading a feeling of "heavenly peace". Anthony Lamuel, ordinary of the diocese of Faisalabad, described the new album as "a tool that stimulates to prayer and a way to sustain the faith of believers."

Msgr. Arshad highlighted the many obstacles encountered in the production of the disc, but also need to "address the current challenges in spreading the Bible in the mass media."

The second ceremony was held on August 9 in the episcopal house in Faisalabad. On this occasion, Fr. Pervez Emmanuel thanked the bishop, the singers and the staff of the WAVE Studio and stressed the importance of song in Christian life. The priest recalled that sacred music in the liturgy is considered a "heritage of inestimable value" in the documents of the Second Vatican Council [Chapter VI of the conciliar Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium dedicated to sacred music - ed].