Gentle melodies filled St. Paul’s Hall at Bintaro Jaya’s Saint Maria Regina Parish in South Tangerang City, Indonesia, on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 17, as the community welcomed the new year through music and song rather than resolutions alone.
The concert, Persembahan Syukur (An Offering of Thanksgiving), featured children, teenagers, and young people of the parish, who used sacred music to express faith and strengthen communal bonds.
The program brought together four performing groups: the SanMaRe Children Youth Orchestra (SCYO), the SanMaRe Children and Youth Choir (SCYC), the OMK Choir “Laudate Dominum,” and children’s and youth choirs from the parish’s various communities.
Throughout the performance, music became more than something to be heard. For both performers and the congregation, it was experienced as a shared prayer that bound the parish community together.
A total of 25 young musicians, led by conductor Alfa Prabahandarya, joined 47 SCYC children accompanied by Caecilia Hesti, Gitaditya Witono, and Cyprianus Dony.
They performed alongside the Choir of Region 6 and the SanMaRe OMK Choir, creating a unified and resonant harmony.
The collaboration reflected a spirit of togetherness across generations within the parish.
Organizing Committee Chair Aloysius Ari Satrio described the concert as a convergence of talent and faith.
“This is who we are. We present this concert as an expression of gratitude. The songs are lightly arranged, familiar to the ear, and meant to be enjoyed together,” he said.
He added that Santa Maria Regina Parish holds significant musical potential that has developed quietly over time, and that the concert provided a space to bring these gifts together in a single celebration of faith.
Singing as prayer
In his opening remarks, the parish priest of Bintaro Jaya, Fr. Bernardus Hardijantan Dermawan, Pr., emphasized the spiritual meaning of music in the Church.
“Bene cantat, bis orat — to sing well is to pray twice. This offering of thanksgiving is the prayer of the children, the young people, and the entire community of Bintaro Jaya Parish,” he said.
He stressed that the concert was not simply a display of talent, but an expression of gratitude for life and a call to glorify God together as one community.
Enthusiastic participation of the faithful
Around 260 parishioners filled St. Paul’s Hall, following each performance with enthusiasm, from the orchestra to solo singers such as Asri Rosari, Devina Anglingdarma, Friska Magdalena Simarmata, Brigita Grace Simon, Faustina Maureen Elena, and Herve Pierre Sidarta.
Applause throughout the afternoon signaled not only appreciation, but active participation in a living celebration of faith.
The program concluded with a surprise appearance by Fr. Camelus Delellis da Cunha, Pr., who joined Grace in inviting the congregation to sing hymns from Puji dan Syukur. The moment transformed the concert hall into a warm and joyful space of communal prayer.
Music unites the faithful
For Dyah Ayu Wulandari, a companion to the children, the concert showed that gratitude need not be expressed in many words.
“Through the voices of children and young people offered sincerely, the faithful are reminded that gratitude is born from open hearts and lives surrendered to God,” she said.
Beyond the performances, parishioners also shared fellowship through SanMaRe’s MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises), which served a variety of food and drinks, another expression of the parish’s spirit of service and solidarity.
The concert was made possible with the support of several sponsors, including Bank BPR Universal, Mentari Intercultural School, and Warung Chef Kim, underscoring how sacred art is sustained through networks of cooperation.
While the Persembahan Syukur concert has ended, its resonance is expected to endure. Through music and song, the faithful of Santa Maria Regina Parish in Bintaro Jaya were reminded of art’s power to unite, nurture joy, and strengthen communion, as they continue walking together in prayer and service.
