When faithful open up the new “Breaking Bread” hymnal used in churches throughout the Diocese of Camden and nationwide, they will see a familiar name on a new song.
Inspired by the prayers of Saint Francis of Assisi, Maria R. Nieva of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Shrine, Lindenwold, penned the bilingual hymn “Kapayapaan, Peace Be with You,” titling it with the Tagalog/Filipino word for peace.
Long, velvety phrases beseeching God to protect and lead the intercessor with hope and everlasting love give way to a bridge urging the listener to “embrace the peace of Christ and pierce the darkness with light.”
May God be with you, to protect and lead you.
Kapayapaan, peace be with you.
Hope and justice, everlasting love,
Kapayapaan, peace be with you.
Where there is hatred, may you sow love.
Where there is darkness, may there be light.
May you embrace the peace of Christ.
May God be with you, to protect and lead you.
Kapayapaan, peace be with you.
Hope and justice, everlasting love,
Kapayapaan, peace be with you.
(c) 2020 Maria R. Nieva
Nieva, who has been director of liturgy and music for many years at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Shrine and leads the adult and children’s choirs, said the hymn was born at the 2020 National Association of Pastoral Musicians Convention, which was virtual that year due to COVID-19.
“We were planning a virtual Tagalog prayer service in the Asian American Pacific section,” said Nieva, who serves as NPM Cultural Diversity chairperson. “We were in a hurry, and they asked me to write something, even just a refrain. I thought about COVID and what we could do in the midst of this chaos.”
Nieva had the musical chops for the assignment: she earned a bachelor’s degree in music and piano performance from the University of the Philippines; a degree in piano pedagogy and choral conducting from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, and a master’s degree in theology and liturgical ministry from LaSalle University, Philadelphia.
Father Ricky Manalo, CSP, a renowned composer elected 2018 Pastoral Musician of the Year by the NPM, recommended Nieva submit the song for publication. It was accepted by the Oregon Catholic Press publishing company and featured in Choral Packet 101 from the OCP Choral Review Services, ensuring choral musicians around the country can avail themselves to the sung prayer, as well as the OCP’s 2024 edition of “Breaking Bread.”
Though written for a musicians’ convention in the midst of the pandemic, Nieva maintains Kapayapaan’s call for hope, justice, peace and light is a timely response to the current National Eucharistic Revival.
“The Eucharist is the Lamb of God,” the musician explained. “How can there be the Eucharist without peace? It is like in the Book of Exodus with the sacrificial lamb at Passover [Exodus 12: 1-14].”
Nieva concluded, “If you pray, peace is attainable in your heart.”
Hear “Kapayapaan, Peace Be with You” on YouTube.
at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen”
