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MESSAGE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 10TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE
NATIONAL CATHOLIC LITURGICAL MUSIC COUNCIL OF NIGERIA (NACALIMCON) HELD
AT THE QUEEN OF THE HOLY ROSARY SCHOOL, GBOKO BENUE STATE FROM
WEDNESDAY Sept. 4TH – SATURDAY to Sept. 7TH 2019.

1. Introduction

The 10th Annual National Conference of the National Catholic Liturgical Music Council of Nigeria
(NACALIMCON)-the umbrella association for Catholic Choristers in Nigeria - was held on September
4th to September 7th at the Queen of the Holy Rosary School, Gboko, Benue State with the theme;
Mediocrity And Superficiality: Addressing Issues Of Inconsistencies with Contemporary
Liturgical Music In Nigeria.The conference was blessed with the presence of the Catholic Bishop
of Gboko Diocese, Most Rev. William Amove Avenya who was the Chief Host and also gave the
keynote address. Over Five Hundred (500) delegates were in attendance from across the nine (9)
Catholic ecclesiastical Provinces in Nigeria. These were made up of various diocesan/ archdiocesan
Choir Chaplains, Music Directors/choir masters, Composers, Instrumentalists, Choir leaders and
Choristers.

The focal point of the conference was to appraise the performance of Liturgical Music across the
country, identify areas of strength and weakness and proffer some directives on ways to make
improvement in accordance with the guidelines stipulated in the Church’s official documents on
Liturgical music. After brainstorming conversations at the conference, NACALIMCON in keeping with
our tradition, gives the following as a message, to the catholic faithful, especially Catholic choristers
and all those responsible for the rendition of liturgical music in the Catholic Church in Nigeria.

2. APPRECIATION

We express our profound gratitude to God for the unprecedented success recorded at this year’s
conference due to the peace and order we experienced irrespective of the large number of
attendees. We also tender our sincere gratitude to all the delegates who, regardless of the fears and
speculations of insecurity trending the media about Benue state, still left their engagements to
attend the conference. Our deep appreciation goes to our Chief Host, his Lordship Most Rev. William
Amove Avenya, the Bishop of Gboko Diocese who welcomed us with great fatherly affection, even at
a time he was commiserating with His brother Bishop of Katsina-Ala, Most Rev. Peter Adoboh over
the demise of his mother and two of his diocesan Priests who were coincidentally, engaged in the
funeral obsequies of their late parents.

We also thank the chairman of the CBCN Committee on Inculturation and Translation- the umbrella
body upon which NACALIMCON was formed as a sub-group eleven years ago - Most Rev. Augustine
Ukwuoma, the Catholic Bishop of Orlu diocese for his fitting prayerful good wishes communicated to
us through our national chaplain, Very Rev. Evworo Moses Iyara OSA.

On a special note, we thank the Abuja Provincial Choir council, their chaplains and leaders of the
Gboko Diocesan Choir Council for accepting to host this historic conference at a very short notice,
and for their creative initiatives which added value and glamour to the conference. May the good
Lord bless and reward you for all the sacrifices you made, and risks you took to make this event
possible.

3. ELECTION AND EMERGENCE OF NEW EXECUTIVES

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The Council used the opportunity of the conference to conduct election for new National Executives
on Thursday 5thSept.2019.The election was supervised by the National Chaplain, Very Rev. Fr.
Evworo Moses Iyara (OSA) and a host of other Priest-Chaplains of various Dioceses who were
present. At the end of the election, the following Council Members properly elected and emerged
as the new National Executives of the Council;

1) Aniemeke Hyacinth Peter National Coordinator

2) Mr. Leo Ogu National Vice Coordinator 1
3) Mr Raymond Udoh National Vice Coordinator 2
4) Sir. Dr. Jude Nnam National Music Director
5) Mr. Joseph Usukumah National Deputy Music Director
6) Mr. Ike Nwachukwu National Secretary
7) Mr. Hilary Osifo National Assistant Secretary
8) Mrs. Maryann Didiugwu National Financial Secretary
9) Mr. Daniel Akpan National Treasurer
10) Mrs. Victoria Aikpokpodion National Welfare office 1.
11) Mr. Julius Pwajok National Welfare Officer 2
12) Mr. Johnbosco Udeogwu National Provost 1
13) Mr. Festus Oriafu National Provost 2
14) Mr. Linus Akpan National P.R.O.

The inauguration of the newly elected Executives took place towards the end of the Opening Mass of
the Conference. We thank the previous executives for their pioneering leadership efforts which
sustained NACALIMCON these past eleven years. May God richly bless and reward them. In the
same vein, we commend the new executives into God’s hand, that He may give them wisdom and
courage to pilot the affairs of the Council to greater heights through Christ our Lord. Amen.

4. COMPLIMENTS TO OUR MUSIC DIRECTORS/CHOIRMASTERS

The Council acknowledges with gratitude, the zeal and interest with which Nigerian Catholic Music
Directors/Choirmasters and Choristers carry out their responsibility in their various parishes across
the Country and wish to thank them and encourage them to continue to do their best for the glory of
God, benefits of the church, their personal sanctification and the sanctification of all Christ’s faithful.
We pray for God’s continuous blessing upon them as they use their talents for the service of God
and His Church, bearing in mind the contemporary issues bedeviling liturgical music in Nigeria
today.

5. OBSERVATIONS ON THE INCONSISTENCIES WITH LITURGICAL MUSIC.

The Council observed with deep concern, the poor zeal at which choir leaders strive to implement
the recommendations made at previous conferences to enrich liturgical music in Nigeria.
Consequent upon this, and in reaction to the papers delivered at the conference, delegates
discussed and examined issues relating to the abuse of some basic norms of liturgical music in the
church in Nigeria. Bishop Avenya summed up his views on these issues in his keynote address when
he stated that: “the musical tradition of the church in which prayer is offered in a unique way is
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being met with a lot of abuses and deviations in contemporary times. Adoption of musical styles that
are contrary to the norms of divine worship is gradually becoming the order of the day in
contemporary worship”. He added that Music in the church is fast losing its meaning. They lack
liturgical and theological depth as a result of the escapades of most composers who have neither
received proper musical, liturgical or theological training to compose for the liturgy.

Another key observation made by Council, was properly captured by Rev. Fr. Moses Iyara in his
paper captioned; Let us sing our Faith. He stated as follows; “Another apparent and most
disturbing deviation, is the distortion of the lyrics of our liturgical texts, which many of us have
unknowingly accepted, and even celebrated, by what I would like to describe as the poetic
trivialization of the Common parts of the mass e.g. the Kyrie -Lord have mercy), Gloria, - Glory to
God, Pater Noster - Our Father, Nicene Creed-I believe in God, Sanctus- Holy, holy, holy
and Agnus Dei-Lamb of God. The texts of these Commons have been well formulated biblically and
theologically over the centuries, in their proper order to reflect the teaching and faith of the Catholic
Church. But unfortunately, what we observe today is that in the course of trying to use poetry or
poetic license to simplify the Commons we have resorted to distorting their meanings completely”.

6. OUR RESOLUTIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS

6.1 TRAINING: The need for training and retraining of choristers in Sacred/Liturgical music cannot
be over emphasized given the humongous liturgical aberrations that prevail in our churches
today. The Council acknowledges with gratitude to God many choristers who have shown
interest in studying music and a good number who have acquired several academic degrees
and certificate programs in music. This is a positive development and great asset to our choir
ministry. We recognize the need to collaborate with these musicologists or experts with
formal education in music in order to improve our choir ministry in the church. However,
beyond acquiring these skills in regular music, we strongly advise them to take a step further
to study Liturgical Music in any certified Catholic Music Academy within or close to
their domain. The Council affirmed that there is sharp difference between Liturgical
Music/songs and Sacred/Christian songs. Ignorance of this fundamental fact is what is
practically responsible for so many digressions by choristers, composers who make arbitrary
selections, and composition of songs for Liturgical celebrations.

We therefore recommend that any chorister who intend to occupy the office of Music
Director/Choir Master should as a conditio sine qua non endeavor to identify any Liturgical
Music Academy in the country and apply for proper training in Liturgical Music –not just
any music school- to augment the earlier music education they have obtained. The Church
is the Custodian of Liturgical Music. Parish Priests, Choir benefactors and Patrons are
encouraged to assist their potential Music Directors/Choir Masters and choristers to
undertake this training. It is very germane for the health of our liturgy today.

6.2 DISTORTION OF THE COMMONS : Given the extensive deviations some locally composed
Commons have done the original liturgical texts of the mass, we strongly request choristers
to revert to the exact words or lyrics of the Commons of the Mass in order to safeguard
their theological meaning and our liturgical heritage. We therefore urge all composers to stick
to these texts and their correct, equivalent vernacular translations as contained in the new
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Roman Missal. Then, where necessary and appropriate, they should weave their musical
rhythm or tonal inflection round same texts bearing in mind the liturgical nature of such texts
e.g. Lord Have Mercy.’ it should have tone of sobriety.

6.3 CHOIR AS ANIMATORS NOT ENTERTAINERS: The Council reaffirmed that the primary role
of the choir is to animate the worshiping congregation with liturgical music and not to
entertain. Regrettably, many choirs have neglected this role, as well as the principle of full,
conscious and active participation at Mass. This is often evident in the rendition of the psalms.
It has been observed that most times in singing the Responsorial Psalms, some choristers
ignore the context for which such psalms were composed. They employ tones that are either
at variance with the mood of the psalms or sing complicated tones that are not
congregation-friendly! We think this is not good for our liturgical celebrations and hereby
advise choristers to desist from such singing practice.

In view of the above, we would like to draw the attention of choristers to the remarks made
by Pope Francis during his address to the participants at the 3rd International Meeting of
Choirs on Nov.24th 2018 during a Saturday audience in Paul VI Hall in the Vatican. He
cautioned that choirs should promote community singing and not replace its
(community/congregation) voice. He warned choirs against the temptation of letting their
talent outshine the Church Community, discouraging people in the pews from actively
participating during Mass with these words;

“You are the musical animators of the whole congregation. Don’t take its place,
depriving the people of God of the chance to sing with you and bear witness to
the Church’s communal prayer.” Pope Francis

In the light of the above counsel, we hereby reiterate that choristers should desist from
showing-off at Mass while rendering or performing liturgical music. The Mass is a communal
worship not entertainment event.

We advise Music directors/Choirmasters to focus more on the repertoire of songs that are
well-known to the congregation, and are in line with the liturgy of the day. Regular use of the
Catholic Hymnbook or any Hymn book approved by the dioceses is strongly recommended.
While we do not discourage the introduction or use of motets, discretion should be used so
that it (motets) doesn't dominate or take over the congregational singing in the mass.

6.4 VETTING COMMITTEE:The Council considers very strongly the need to put in place some
implementation Committee to ensure that recommendations in our conferences are complied
with significantly. We have observed that the bulk of the musical aberrations in the liturgy
lies with composers/choirmasters and their compositions. We believe that the view expressed
by Bishop Avenya that “New compositions should conform faithfully to the principles and
norms of divine worship, in this way they will have the qualities proper to genuine sacred
music” must be taken seriously. As a result, NACALIMCON will constitute a vetting committee
to assist in examining new compositions in line with the church guideline on liturgical music.
Experts which will include priests and lay persons to be selected from across Nigeria will be
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deployed to serve in the committee. Details of the processes to be adopted in achieving this
will be provided in due course.

6.5 MUSIC COMMISSION: The Council noted that the absence of good Liurgical Music
Commission in some dioceses is majorly responsible for the drift in the rendition of Liturgical
Music. We therefore strongly recommend the setting up of Diocesan Music Commission in all
the dioceses that would provide pastoral guidance and recommend training programmes in
theology and liturgical/Sacred music for choir leaders and choristers in general

7. GENERAL ADVICE

i. The Nicene Creed (text) of the Latin rite is the one approved for the Eucharistic liturgy in the
Roman Missal. This creed contains 12 articles of faith which is aptly summarized in the Apostles
Creed, and it encapsulates the totality of our Catholic Christian Faith. Unfortunately, a large number
of creedal compositions in circulation today, either in English or vernacular do not contain these 12
articles of faith. And there is no liturgical guideline that stipulates that some articles of the Creed
should be ignored or deducted for the purpose of singing. Hence we urge all choristers to adhere to
the approved English version of the Latin text which is found in the New Roman Missal.

ii. We encourage choristers to use more of Chants or other appropriate tones that are
congregation-friendly for the Responsorial Psalms.

iii. Efforts should be made by choirs to introduce songs/ choruses that expresses our faith- the
Word of God- and not just our emotional sentiments. The church expresses her faith in God
through prayer and songs as revealed in the Sacred Scripture

iv. Choirs should assist their congregation to observe moments of silence. Singing beyond liturgical
actions should be discouraged.

REV FR MOSES EVWORO MOSES (OSA) ANIEMEKE HYACINTH PETER

National Chaplain National Coordinator

Sir. Dr. Jude Nnam Ike Emmanuel Nwachukwu

National Music Director National Secretary