83 years after the World Eucharistic Congress in Budapest in 1938 and 83 days before the world event in 2021, the hymn of the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress and the official image film related to it were solemnly presented, and the 12 messengers of the event were introduced.
Hungary September 5-12, 2021 will host the Catholic world event between The organizers presented a re-arranged version of Géza Koudela, Béla Bangha's work beginning with "Sing about victory", which, like in 1938, will be the anthem of the congress.
The musical works were compiled by the Kossuth Prize-winning Hungarian songwriter and performer Ákos Kovács, the orchestration and string recordings were performed by the internationally renowned composer Péter Pejtsik. The founder of After Crying is a regular creative contributor to the productions of Peter Gabriel, Ákos, Balázs Havasi and Eurodisney. The choir and orchestra of the Hungarian State Opera also participated in the recordings.
Three young musicians sing the re-arranged version of the song: the names of Bogi Nagy, Gergő Dánielfy and Máté Czinke may be familiar to music lovers, as we have heard them in several talent shows. The anthem will be heard with both English and Hungarian texts.
The official image film of the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress, whose script was written by Ákos, was also completed for the music of the hymn.
The film tells the story of the conversion of three young people, encouraging everyone to attend the convention and meet Jesus. Father Attila Farkas, who as a child participated in the Eucharistic World Congress in 1938, took a role in the production of the film, and then was the parish priest of the Szent István Basilica for half a century.
Where Hungarians live, they know this song
At the press presentation, Cardinal Péter Erdő, Primate, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest said:
"Perhaps it has never happened in the history of Eucharistic congresses that the entire event had to be postponed due to an epidemic. It is not by chance that we have been praying for the success of the congress for the fifth year now. At first we only knew, now we are also experiencing that it depends not only on our preparatory work, but also on divine providence, whether and what will become of this great celebration for the whole church."
Speaking about the music, the cardinal said:
"Those who were there in June 2019 at the papal mass in Csíksomlyo remember how a hundred thousand people sang the hymn of the 1938 Eucharistic Congress from the outside, every stanza of it from beginning to end. This means, not only in Budapest parishes and here and there in the country, but wherever Hungarians live, this song is known."
Photo: IEC 2020
The 12 heralds of the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress were also introduced at the press presentation. Their task is to promote the event and its main goal – the common celebration of Jesus present in the Eucharist. The 12 heralds of the world event: musician Gergő Baricz, songwriter, Franciscan monk Csaba Böjte, neurosurgeon András Csókay, actor Attila Dolhai, singer, actress Anna Kubik, writer János Lackfi, poet, folk singer Mária Petrás, singer Sena Dagadu, performer Ági Szalóki, songwriter, Róbert Szikora is the frontman of R-GO, Csaba Pindroch is an artist, Diána Ürge-Vorsatz is a physicist and climate researcher.
As in 1938, in 2021 volunteers will also play a key role in organizing the world event. Well-known and respected personalities - including Dani Gyöngyi, Erika Miklósa, Gergő Dánielfy, István Kuzmányi - have undertaken to promote voluntary work and become members of this great community. So far, 2,700 applicants have applied, but in view of the great interest, the application for the Volunteer Program will be extended until June 24.
Source: mandiner.hu
Featured image: IEC 2020
