“Ikaw Ay Pari” wins Best Inspirational Religious Song at Catholic Mass Media Awards, honoring priestly Devotion
The song Ikaw Ay Pari was awarded Best Inspirational Religious Song at this year’s Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA), a recognition that celebrates the ministry of Catholic music, shared Fr. Giuseppe Pietro Arsciwals, OP, in an emailed interview.
Released by OPMusik-Dominican Communication Philippines, the official music ministry of the Dominican Province of the Philippines, on August 4, 2023, the song commemorates the feast day of Saint John Vianney, the patron saint of priests.
Fr. Arsciwals expressed deep gratitude for the recognition, saying, “Thank you, Lord! Thank you, CMMA! This award is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion of OPMusik in its music ministry.”
Reflecting on the significance of the award, Arsciwals noted, “Beyond the accolade, this recognition inspires us to continue growing, exploring new creative paths, and producing music that not only promotes Catholic values but also resonates deeply with listeners.”
The story behind Ikaw Ay Pari began when Fr. Felix Delos Reyes, OP, a Dominican student preparing for ordination, asked Dr. Joselito Delos Reyes, a professor at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), to translate The Priest, a poem by Jean-Baptiste Henri Lacordaire, OP, into Filipino.
Fr. Delos Reyes initially intended to include this translation on a prayer card as a keepsake for his Thanksgiving Mass.
Years later, he invited Jaymar Capalaran to compose a melody for the translation. While Capalaran created an initial version, he felt it could be enhanced and collaborated with Arsciwals to bring the song to life.
The result was a powerful ballad that captures the dedication and heart of the priestly vocation.
The song’s emotional depth was further enriched by a choral arrangement by Michael Kenneth Fabian, a student at the UST Conservatory of Music, and it was meticulously produced by Paulo Zarate.
Fr. Arsciwals, along with the Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble, brought the composition to life, offering listeners a soulful tribute to the priestly ministry.
Ikaw Ay Pari is now available on all digital streaming platforms, reaching audiences with its message of faith and devotion.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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