By Juliana Uzoka

St. Theresa Parish in Jos marked its preparations for the Jubilee Year of Prayer, 2025, with a captivating evening of music, featuring gospel, praise and worship that lifted the spirits of worshippers gathered to “pray twice” through song.

The event, held on October 15, brought together various groups from the parish—the Holy Childhood, youth groups, women and men groups, and the parish priests—all contributing to a harmonious atmosphere filled with songs befitting the heavenly kingdom.

Reverend Father Jonah Onah, Assistant Parish Priest of St. Theresa and the event coordinator, emphasized the importance of prayer in his address. He highlighted Jesus as a model of prayerfulness, underscoring the value of “waiting upon the Lord” when planning significant projects. Father Onah referred to the disciples’ request in Luke 11 to be taught how to pray as a testament to prayer’s central role.

“The Jubilee Year of Hope is a special time of grace and forgiveness declared by Pope Francis to encourage the faithful to renew their spiritual lives and focus on hope amidst challenges such as human suffering, war, and climate crises. This year is about re-establishing our relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation. It is a time for spiritual growth, forgiveness, and hope,” Father Onah explained.

The parish’s evening of music also served to reflect the Catholic Church’s teaching on the significance of music in worship. According to Catholic doctrine, “sacred music is a treasure of inestimable value,” playing a vital role in expressing faith, fostering community, and enhancing the liturgical experience. The Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasizes that song and music elevate worship by combining beauty, participation, and solemnity, inviting the faithful to deeper engagement in the liturgy, as “he who sings prays twice.”

In line with this understanding, Father Onah stressed the depth of prayerfulness called for during the Jubilee Year of Prayer, emphasizing the biblical call to “pray without ceasing.” Each group’s angelic renditions heightened the event’s spiritual tone, aligning with Pope Francis’ vision of a “symphony of prayer” as the Church prepares for the Jubilee. The parish’s approach of uniting different groups in worship exemplified the spirit of harmony—a “symphony” lifting voices to God in unity and bringing together diverse individuals with their struggles, hopes, and dreams in melodious expression.

Earlier, the Parish Priest, Very Rev. Father Paul Pam, noted that the evening of songs, which coincided with the Feast of St. Teresa of Avila and fell within the Rosary month of October, was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Catholics around the world pray the Rosary daily in October, honoring Mary. Father Pam encouraged all parish members, including the priests, to participate in this initiative, raising “holy voices” to ask for God’s intervention in a world filled with challenges and suffering.

“We need to be on our knees and and also sing, as St. Augustine said, ‘he who sings prays twice,’ to call on God’s mercy to avert further calamities and end wars ravaging the world,” Father Pam urged.

Notably, the Jubilee Year of Prayer spans from July 6 to December 14, 2024, its preparatory stage, with a grand opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica on December 24. The door will be closed on January 6, 2026, marking the end of the Jubilee Year of Hope.

It was an evening to remember as worshippers, united in prayer through song, experienced the joy and peace of God’s presence, where chains were broken, barriers lifted, and divine interventions witnessed. This musical celebration fostered an atmosphere of unity among the congregation, deepening their spiritual journey together.