By Purushottam Nayak
Raikia, June 7, 2020: The nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19 has given a priest in Odisha a new opportunity to reach out to his people the eastern Indian state.
Father Bhanjakishore Nayak, a self-made musician and singer, uses an App to help people praise and worship with people from afar.
“I was sad because I could not go to the people to teach praise and worship hymns,” the 32-year-old priest of the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, told Matters India on June 6.
He now uses Star Maker App to teach hostel students and others in the archdiocese as well as the Diocese of Berhampur. He says the inspiration has come from Augustine of Hippo, a fifth century saint who said, “To sing is to pray twice.”
Father Nayak also said he got the idea from Cardinal Oswald Gracias, who asked his priests and heads of institutions in the Archbishop of Bombay to use phones, YouTube, WhatsApp and other social media to connect top people spiritually.
“My aim is to reach out to the youth, faithful by praise and worship Christian songs. I preferred the Star Maker App through which all the family members can listen to my track songs in the time of family prayer,” explained the priest, who began singing from his childhood.
Although he no professional training in music, he was singing for local cultural opera and drama, besides playing musical instruments.
Bishop Niranjan Swalsingh of Sambalpur, uncle of Father Nayak, recalls hearing his nephew sing in the seminary. “I heard him singing well. He led the choir in the seminary. He developed this talent gradually during his priestly training,” the prelate told Matters India.
The prelate expressed confidence that many would be come to know Jesus and participate in prayers and liturgical services because of Father Nayak’s music.
Sister Prasanna Swalsingh, the bishop’s younger sister who taught Father Nayak in primary school, said her student was hard-working and obedient. “He has taught many liturgical hymns to the village youth. He can compose hymns on Christian-based themes,” the member of the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod told Matters India.
Father Pradeep Behera, secretary of the Liturgy Commission of the archdiocese, says social media plat forms like Star Maker can help evangelizes to reach out Christ’s message to many during the lockdown.
“Singing plays an important role to pray better. I am happy Father Nayak is using God-given talent to reach out to people through Star Maker Apps,” he added.
Aplina Nayak (no relation) of St. Paul’s Church Balliguda says prays well listening to Christian songs Father Nayak sends through Star Maker.
Father Nayak was born on February 8, 1985, at Kotama, Saint Teresa of Child Jesus Parish, under Berhampur diocese.
His parents are Faustin, a government schoolteacher and Fabiana, a house mother. The priest is their fourth child.
He was ordained a priest on April 20, 2016. At present, he is an associate priest of Our Lady of Charity Parish and the superintendent of Bishop’s Tobar Hostel, Raikia, Kandhamal.