The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) has begun a process to strengthen coordination, liturgical formation and ecclesiastical guidance for Catholic choirs across its territory, following a first meeting with representatives of the Inter-Diocesan Catholic Church Choirs Music Association (ICCCMA).

Convened by the SACBC Department for Formation, Life and Apostolate of the Laity, the meeting marks an important step towards bringing the Association into closer collaboration with the Bishops’ Conference, following its request for formal recognition and accreditation.

Fr Dikotsi Mofokeng, Coordinating Secretary of the SACBC Department, said the meeting followed discussions at the Bishops’ plenary, where the need for greater coordination among Catholic choirs was identified.

“We need to coordinate all choirs in our Conference, especially so that they can sing from the same hymn sheet in terms of liturgy, organisation and structures,” he explained, adding that further meetings would follow to establish a way forward.

ICCCMA has been in existence for several years, providing a platform for Catholic choirs from different dioceses to share their musical gifts, participate in liturgical celebrations and promote Sacred Music. However, the Association is now seeking a more formal relationship with the SACBC to ensure that its activities are guided by the Church’s pastoral and liturgical structures.

Lebogang Morobe, Secretary-General of the ICCCMA, said the Association recognises the importance of operating under the guidance of the Church.

“As choirs within the parishes of the Church, we need guidance and recognition from the SACBC,” she said. She explained that formal recognition would help the Association strengthen its identity as a Catholic body and ensure that its members understand the responsibility of representing the Church, even beyond their parish communities.

The Association has eight affiliated dioceses and is working to expand its reach across the SACBC region.

Strengthening the liturgical identity of Catholic music

National Chaplain of the ICCCMA, Fr Thabo Mothiba OMI, highlighted the need to deepen understanding of Sacred Music and its proper place within the Eucharistic celebration. He explained that the Association focuses primarily on choral music for the liturgy, drawing on both the Western classical tradition and African compositions, alongside hymns from Catholic hymn books.

Beyond its annual inter-diocesan festivals, the Association organises workshops, retreats and formation opportunities involving composers, conductors, priests and music specialists.

Fr Mothiba stressed that liturgical music must be understood as an integral part of the Church’s prayer and not simply as a form of musical entertainment.

The discussions also addressed concerns about the use of music that may not be appropriate for the Catholic liturgy. He said the meeting provided an opportunity to clarify the identity and responsibilities of choirs as ministers of the liturgy, including the importance of understanding prescribed hymns and their place in the celebration of Mass.

Fr Mofokeng emphasised the importance of catechesis in this area, noting that Fr Francis Cibane, who heads the SACBC Department for Christian Formation, Liturgy and Culture, would be involved in future engagements to provide liturgical guidance.

He said the formation would help choir leaders and members better understand the different parts of the Mass, the significance of silence and the spiritual meaning of liturgical music.

Building communion from the parish level

For the ICCCMA, the development of Catholic choir ministry begins at the grassroots. Morobe explained that participation at the inter-diocesan level depends on active involvement in parish and diocesan structures.

The Association’s activities therefore seek to build a network of choirs rooted in parish life, extending through deaneries and dioceses before coming together at national festivals.

The meeting also highlighted the role of digital media in promoting Sacred Music and communicating the Church’s liturgical identity. Fr Mofokeng observed that liturgical celebrations are increasingly shared on social media, making it important for choirs and communities to understand what is appropriate for Catholic worship.

Morobe welcomed the opportunities offered by digital platforms to introduce more people, particularly young people, to the life of the Church and to strengthen their relationship with priests and bishops.

The Association is also preparing for its annual Inter-Diocesan Sacred Music Festival, scheduled for the first weekend of December 2026 in Mamelodi, Pretoria. The two-day gathering will include the celebration of Mass and a festival bringing together choirs from affiliated dioceses.