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Father Ho Lung and Friends is preparing to launch their newest production, Jesus 2025. The production will open at the National Arena in September, and according to Father Richard Ho Lung, it will be a spiritual and cultural event unlike any other.
Speaking with The Gleaner, Father Ho Lung explained that Jesus is the heart of the production.
“[It explores] the time of creation right through to [Jesus’] birth, right to his great deeds and kindness to all of us, but that He was condemned by people who found that He was too forgiving and merciful,” said Father Ho Lung.
Audiences can expect a production that blends drama, music, and dance in a way that has defined Father Ho Lung and Friends for decades.
“It is all beautiful music - reggae music. It’s all original music that I wrote, depicting the life of Christ,” he shared.
The opening performance is set for September 24, with special school shows scheduled for September 24, 25, and 26 as well as October 1, 2, and 3, all beginning at 10:00 a.m. The season will run until October 7, with performances at 2 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 7 p.m.
With this being Missionaries of the Poor’s 44th year and Father Ho Lung and Friends celebrating more than 50 years, the founder of the Missionaries of the Poor shared how the group has raised the bar with Jesus 2025.
“It is full of costumes, beautiful costumes, dance, and music, but it’s very Jamaican – very, very Jamaican. The music is all written in styles of reggae, mento, jazz even and calypso, but it’s very Jamaican in its feeling, and yet at the same time very biblical,” said Father Ho Lung.
Looking ahead to Jamaica’s upcoming general election, Father Ho Lung also offered a message to the nation.
“Teach justice, teach love, be merciful to sinners. Be positive, love your island and the least of our brothers and sisters, both those who are poor but also those who are rejected because they have done wrong,” said Father Ho Lung. “It is very, very close to what Christ wants of his Christian people.”
And while Missionaries of the Poor and Father Ho Lung and Friends mark significant milestones this year, when asked about the future, Father Ho Lung pointed to the importance of continuity. What will the future look like? “That’s really difficult to say,” said Father Ho Lung with a laugh. “I hand it over to the Lord. I prepare in terms of a succession plan and to teach young brothers to be like Christ. [Their] founder and leader is truly Christ, and they should model their lives after what they see Christ do and what he says ... . Once we have that, the brothers will be fine.”
He also pointed out the importance of continuing to spread the word through music.
“Music is the gateway to heaven, beautiful music, music that is local, very Jamaican, rooted in our people and rooted in our faith,” he said.
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