ONE CHRIST, MANY WELCOMES

WINTER 2019–2020

In the glorious diversity of our archdiocese, choirs of angels sing in many different tongues.

JESUS ARRIVES AT ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. At the same moment, He arrives in each of the 294 parishes of the Archdiocese of New York, and together we sing “Silent Night,” “Noche de Paz,” “Cicha noc,” “Tichá noc,” “Oíche Chiúin,” “Nadwe Khom” – with the grace of God, in perfect harmony.

Below, you’ll find snippets of Christmas songs in Slovak, Gaelic, Polish, Spanish and Yoruba. Type the titles into your web browser to find recordings and learn to sing along. It’s just a small sampling of the dozens of languages spoken by Catholics in the archdiocese. This Christmastime, try attending a Mass in a language other than your own. Share your culture with someone outside of it, and learn a bit about theirs.
 

"Don oíche úd i mBeithil"

Ireland

Gaelic:
Don oíche úd i mBeithil beidh tagairt faoi ghréin go brách,
Don oíche úd i mBeithil gur tháinig an Briathar slán;
Tá gríosghrua ar spéartha ‘s an talamh ‘na chlúdach bán;
Féach Íosagán sa chléibhín,
‘s an Mhaighdean ‘Á dhiúl le grá
Ar leacain lom an tsléibhe go nglacann na haoirí scáth
Nuair in oscailt gheal na spéire tá teachtaire Dé ar fáil;
Céad glóir anois don Athair sa bhFlaitheasa thuas go hard!
Is feasta fós ar sa thalamh d’fheara dea-mhéin’ siocháin!

English:
I sing of a night in Bethlehem
A night as bright as dawn
I sing of that night in Bethlehem
The night the Word was born
The skies are glowing gaily
The Earth in white is dressed
See Jesus in the cradle Drink deep in His mother’s breast
And there on a lonely hillside
The shepherds bow down in fear
When the heavens open brightly
And God’s message rings out so clear
Glory now to the Father
In all the heavens high
And peace to His friends on Earth below
Is all the angels cry
 

"Ó, kto kto l’úbi Mikuláša"

Slovak:
Ó, kto kto l’úbi Mikuláša
Ó, kto kto slúží Mikulášovi
Tomu svätý Mikuláš vždy mu pomáhaj, Mikuláš, Mikuláš

English:
O who loves Nicholas the saintly,
O who serves Nicholas the saintly,
Him will Nicholas receive, And give help in time of need: Holy Father Nicholas!

"W żłobie leży!"

Polish:
W żłobie leży! Któż pobieży
Kolędować małemu
Jezusowi Chrystusowi
Dziś nam narodzonemu
Pastuszkowie przybywajcie
Jemu wdzięcznie przygrywajcie
Jako Panu naszemu

English:
In a manger He lies!
Who will go to sing carols to the little
Jesus Christ,
born this day for us?
Shepherds come play gratefully for Him
for He is our Lord
 

"Cantemos a María"

Spanish:
Gloria al Dios del cielo y paz en la tierra,
a todos los hombres de buena voluntad
Cantemos, cantemos, cantemos a María
que ha nacido el Niño, noche de alegría

Todos los pastores están anunciando
El Niño ha nacido y ya es navidad
Cantemos, cantemos, cantemos a María
que ha nacido el Niño, noche de alegría

Santos Reyes Magos que llegan de Oriente
adoran al niño que ha nacido ya
Cantemos, cantemos, cantemos a María
que ha nacido el Niño, noche de alegría

English:
Glory to God in heaven and peace on Earth
To all people of goodwill
Let us sing, let us sing, let us sing to Mary
That the Child was born this joyful night

All of the shepherds are proclaiming
The Child is born and now it is Christmas
Let us sing, let us sing, let us sing to Mary
That the Child was born this joyful night

The holy wise men who came from the East
Adore the child who has just been born
Let us sing, let us sing, let us sing to Mary
That the Child was born this joyful night

"Betelehemu"

Yoruba:
Awa yio ri Baba gbojule
Awa yio ri Baba fehinti
Nibo labi Jesu
Nibo labe bi i
Betelehemu, ilu ara
Nibe labi Baba o daju
Iyin, iyin, iyin nifun o
Adupe fun o, adupe fun o,
adupe fun ojo oni
Baba oloreo
Iyin, iyin, iyin fun o Baba anu
Baba toda wasi
Betelehemu

English:
We shall see that we have a Father to trust
We shall see that we have a Father to rely on
Where was Jesus born?
Where was he born?
Bethlehem, the city of wonder
That is where the Father was born for sure
Praise, praise, praise be to Him
We thank You, we thank You,
we thank You for this day
Blessed Father Praise, praise, praise be to You, merciful Father
Father who delivered us
Bethlehem