Malaysia: Sibu diocese introduces new Church hymnal

The Liturgy Commission for the Diocese of Sibu has started to introduce the new Sing Your Praise to God (SYPG) hymnal.

This version is the hymnal’s latest update since the release of its second edition in 1985.

Initially published in 1970, the SYPG hymnal was published by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei (CBCMSB). 

The updated SYPG hymnal includes the Order of Mass, Antiphons, and a wide range of hymns in English. Mah also presented the index listings in the hymnal, allowing for an easier search of songs by title, first line, and liturgical season.

According to Neil Mah, a member of the Liturgical Music Committee (LMC) who worked on the hymnal for seven years, the updating process of this document began in 2014.

He said that the working committee was in constant consultation with the CBCMSB, and the valuable views of the bishops greatly helped in shaping the hymnal’s revised edition.

In a three-hour introductory session at the Church of St. Mary’s of Divine Mercy, Mah offered additional instructions on using the updated hymnal. He briefly demonstrated the proper chanting techniques for the Ordinaries of the Mass.

Mah also emphasized the significance of the addition of Antiphons in the SYPG hymnal, which offers a deep connection to the celebrated liturgical season or feast given their scriptural basis and rich historical tradition.

Moreover, Mah presented a few examples of suitable and unsuitable hymn choices for liturgical purposes, highlighting the importance of aligning lyrical content and musical style to the specific parts of the Mass.

Selected hymns in the updated SYPG hymnal acknowledged their rightful owners, ensuring that the document complies with copyright laws.- Luke Godoy