Lord, Have Mercy

"Lord, Have Mercy" by Ewurum Oluomachi is a moving multilingual setting for the Penitential Rite. Rather than sticking to a single language, the piece gathers the voices of a diverse congregation into one united plea for God's compassion, moving smoothly through several Nigerian languages alongside English and the traditional Greek.

The choir leads the assembly through petitions in Igbo ("Onyenweanyi mee ebere"), Hausa ("Ubangiji Kai mana Jin-Kai"), Yoruba ("Oluwa saanu fun wa"), and Efik ("Obong tua nyin mbom"). As the vocal parts enter and overlap, the different tongues blend into a single, universal prayer. It is a wonderful choice for the introductory rites at Mass, especially in parishes with a mix of cultures, allowing everyone in the pews to hear the call for mercy in a familiar voice.