14 October 2010 - Dagupan City. The Archdiocese of Lingayen Dagupan will present a concert entitled ‘FADZ IN CONCERT” on October 22, 2010, Friday, at the CSI Stadia, Lucao District, Dagupan City with a matinee performance at 3:00 pm and a gala show at 7:00 pm.
FADZ is a jejemon word for priest. The youth fondly call their priests in the archdiocese “Fadz”, an address of endearment which the priests themselves allow the youth to use when calling them. The same jejemon word was used as concert title in view of the Church’s thrust to use new methods and approaches to make the Gospel more relevant to the youth and the poor.
This is the first time that such an all priests concert will be held in this archdiocese. The idea was born during the weekly Monday dinners that the Archbishop hosted for the priests to promote a spirit of camaraderie among the priests. After dinner, over a cup of tea or coffee or while enjoying dessert, the priests took turns singing with videoke accompaniment. The idea of a priests’ concert was born.
This is not a fund raising concert for a cause. The concert rehearsals became occasions for strengthening fraternity among priests. It was a team building exercise among the priests that extended to four months. It was fun time. It was bonding time. They came together once or twice a week during their free evenings—sang together, laughed together, danced together—not so much for the October 22 concert but for the sheer fun of being together. It was awesome to see the priests in their childlike simplicity dancing gleefully and singing with much gusto.
The concert is primarily an act of appreciation for the Catholic laity of the archdiocese. The priests dedicate this concert to the parish laity--they who have been so supportive of priests; so understanding with the shortcomings of priests; so constant and consistent in helping priests; so faithful in praying for priests. Through this concert, the priests will say to the Catholic laity: “We love you and we have always appreciated your kindness to priests. Our main fault is that we have not shown our gratitude all these years.”
This concert is an act of love from a grateful clergy to their ever supportive parish laity.
In spite of the shadows in the Church caused by issues of priests in problematic situations or priests not fully understood by their flock on certain social issues, this concert is a way to reach out to the laity celebrating what is right and beautiful with the world. The mark of Christian discipleship is joy and Christian life is a big feast!
