I BELIEVE IN ONE GOD

When the homily concludes and the congregation rises to profess their faith, a setting like Rev. Fr. Okwy Tony Umeh's "I Believe in One God" brings a wonderful sense of unity to the Mass. Instead of a through-composed, complex Credo, this piece uses a simple, recurring refrain that anchors the entire prayer. The choir leads the verses, walking through the core mysteries of the Catholic faith—from the Father Almighty and the incarnation of Christ to the Holy Spirit and the world to come.

What makes this arrangement so effective for Nigerian parishes is its strophic structure. By breaking the Nicene Creed into seven distinct verses, each ending with the firm declaration "In One God, I believe," it allows the congregation to easily join in the response. It transforms the Creed from a long recitation into a joyful, rhythmic affirmation of what we hold true.

Singing this piece from the choir loft, you can feel the conviction build with each verse. As the final stanza looks toward "Living in the world to come" and closes with a resounding threefold Amen, it leaves everyone ready to enter the Liturgy of the Eucharist with a renewed, shared faith.