Houston Teens & Young Adults Choir, USA
St. Joseph's Syro Malabar Catholic Forane Church , Houston, Texas. Easter Vigil - April 16, 2022
Easter song, in Syriac, "Baqyamta" (In Resurrection), 2022.
Lyrics: Rithin Chilapattusseril, Thomas Kappil Puthusseril, CMI, Cyriac Madathil, CMI
Music: Joseph J. Palackal, CMI
Music Arrangement: Prince Joseph

The conversation on Syriac chants of the Syro Malabar Church is gaining greater momentum than we thought. We released this Easter song on Palm Sunday (see Aramaic Project275 OyEF8mc); the Houston Teens & Young Adults Choir, learned it and sang on Easter Vigil. This is the first time we hear this song in a group singing format and the effect is far greater than when you hear in a solo format. The enthusiasm of the younger generation is heart warming. The encouragement the youngster receive from their parish priests, especially, the newly ordained priest ,Fr. Kevin Mundackal, is praiseworthy. We appreciate initiative of Kavitha Joseph and Christy Thomas in making this happen so fast. They prepared handouts with the song text and translation for the use of the congregation. It seems the congregation, too, joined with the choir and sang the song. Also, a member in the congregation, Geo Roney, thought of documenting the event on his cell phone. We are grateful to Kavitha Joseph for sharing the video. May God bless the initiative of the clergy and the choir at the Houston Church.

References:
Aramaic Project 275 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6o4qOyEF8mc
Aramaic Project-275A - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W05g4tO4GY

Joseph J. Palackal, CMI
New York
21 April 2022