In a special jubilee Mass celebrating choir ministries, the Archbishop of Mandalay issued a clear reminder: the choir’s role is to serve prayer, not to perform.

Archbishop Marco Tin Win of Mandalay Archdiocese presided over the Jubilee Anniversary Mass for choir organizations at St. Michael’s Church on Sunday, December 7. In his homily, he emphasized the sacred purpose of liturgical music.

“Why do we have a choir?” he asked the congregation. “Firstly, it is not a performance. It is an act of worship.” He stressed that the human voice is the primary instrument of praise and cautioned against using recorded hymns as a substitute, stating plainly, “that cannot be called worship.”

He urged practical reforms, asking that instruments not overpower the congregation and that choirs harmonize with the people, not compete with them. “We are worshipping God, not putting on a stage show,” he said.

The celebration highlighted both the value and the challenges facing church music ministries. Mr. Freddie Myint Zaw called the choir “the lifeblood of the Church,” noting plans to expand educational programs to rural parishes when conditions allow.

However, concerns about engagement were also voiced. Fr. Augustine Tin Maung Htun warned that declining participation is “dangerous for the Church,” reminding attendees that “when you sing, you pray twice.”

Sr. Theresa, a choir leader from St. John’s Parish, pointed to the need for better training and youth recruitment. “We must help young people feel, ‘I want to be part of the choir in today’s worship,’” she said.

Following the Mass, Archbishop Tin Win met personally with choir leaders to offer encouragement. The event served as both a thanksgiving for dedicated musicians and a collective call to refocus their mission: leading the faithful’s prayer, not overshadowing it.

By RVA Myanmar Service