“Life isn’t waiting for the storm to pass, It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.”
The Catholic Education Office of the diocese of Hong Kong together with the Good Hope School released a Cantonese musical project, titled, Togetherness–Linked in Adversity, on April 4, Easter Sunday. The project featured John Cardinal Tong Hon, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha chi-shing, Father Paul Tam, Father Joseph Chan, Sister Pauline Yuen and Sister Catherine Wan together with young musicians from Good Hope School. Dr. Antony Cheng put music to the lyrcis of Vansie Kwok.
The concept of producing a music video to boost the morale of the people of our communities came from Claretian Missionary Father Jijo Kandamkulathy, the director of Claretian Publications, Macau. He shared the process with the Sunday Examiner, as well as the objective and the timeline of the project that received over 15,000 views on YouTube within 24 hours of its release
“The project aims to bring hope and positive energy to the community through music and singing. Through this song, we hope people to be strengthened in their faith in God, especially during times of adversity. Unity and togetherness is our goal,” Father Kandamkulathy said.
This project was born out of a sense of helplessness during the early days of the outbreak of the pandemic in China, Hong Kong and Macau. Claretian Missionaries in Macau and Hong Kong began an undertaking to collect and distributie facemasks to needy countries and people. Soon the focus shifted to distributing food for people who had lost jobs and they initiated a programme called Mother’s Meal in Macau.
“But a realisation slowly dawned that, the pandemic caused more damage to the morale of the people than to their economic and health security. And we needed something to boost the morale of the people,” Father Kandamkulathy recounted, adding “That’s when we approached Father Dominic Chan to suggest a good composer and he connected us to Dr. Anthony Cheng, the composer of the song. We discussed different ideas and lyrics. Dr. Cheng approached Miss Vansie Kwok who came up with the lyrics. After writing, she gave her explanations for the lines, which brought tears to the eyes of many, and we decided to proceed with it. And Dr. Cheng did this beautiful composition.”
‘But a realisation slowly dawned that, the pandemic caused more damage to the morale of the people than to their economic and health security. And we needed something to boost the morale of the people,’
Father Jijo Kandamkulathy
“After the initial composition, Dr. Cheng together with Good Hope school made a video. However, recognising its potential and the need of the message to reach a larger audience, we planned to make a combined video for Hong Kong and Macau. However, the continuous lockdowns and restriction of travel between the two regions made the joint effort impossible,” Father Kandamkulathy said.
However, he is glad that the Hong Kong version came out on Easter Sunday. A Macau version of the musical video is expected within a week, and he predicts some surprises with a parallel story running through.
The production in Hong Kong was co-ordinated by Dr. Cheng himself. The video shoot was done at the Holy Spirit Seminary and it took six days to complete.
Father Kandamkulathy expressed his thanks to Father Chan for his help in getting the project moving, Carl Chung—the original singer of the composition, Dr. Anthony Cheng and Vansie Kwok who put their heart and soul into the lyrics and composition.
“We are also proud of the Good Hope School musicians who painstakingly learned the scores and played soulfully,” he said.
