DELI SERDANG | INDATANEWS.COM - Regent of Deli Serdang, dr. H. Asri Ludin Tambunan, officially opened the first Catholic Church Choir Festival (Pesta Paduan Suara Gerejani Katolik – Pesparani) of Deli Serdang Regency on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The opening ceremony took place at the Cadika Hall in Lubuk Pakam and was marked by the striking of a gong. Representatives from 14 Catholic parishes are participating in the festival.
The inaugural Pesparani festival is part of the
Deli Serdang Regency Government's efforts to strengthen religious life and realize its vision of building a religious and faith-oriented Deli Serdang. The event also reflects the commitment of Regent
Asri Ludin Tambunan and his deputy, Lom Lom Suwondo, to providing opportunities for all religious communities to develop their spiritual lives and strengthen social harmony.
In his address, Regent Asri Ludin expressed hope that Pesparani would continue to grow and eventually become a permanent fixture on the Deli Serdang Regency Government's annual events calendar. He emphasized that religious activities play an important role in encouraging people to remain engaged and productive while strengthening relationships among different religious communities.
"We hope that all religious activities will be held regularly as annual events in the future. This year, we have added another event, namely Pesparani. May it provide additional motivation and enthusiasm for us to remain active and productive," he said.
Pesparani Expected to Become an Annual Religious Event
Regent Asri Ludin emphasized that Pesparani is not merely an opportunity for Catholic believers to demonstrate their talents and abilities in choir singing and their understanding of the Holy Scriptures. The event also provides a platform for strengthening faith and fostering a sense of brotherhood within Deli Serdang society.
He therefore expressed hope that all parties involved would work together to ensure the continuity of the event so that Pesparani would not remain limited to its inaugural edition this year.
The regent also encouraged participants to make the most of the opportunity to develop their abilities and prepare themselves for competitions at higher levels.
"If Pesparawi participants were previously able to travel to Papua, why shouldn't Pesparani participants also have the opportunity to compete in Manado? This event comes from Deli Serdang and is intended for Deli Serdang. I hope it will continue to develop," he stated.
The first Deli Serdang Regency Pesparani Festival also serves as preparation for the provincial-level Pesparani competition in North Sumatra, scheduled to take place on October 23, 2026, in Pematangsiantar. The regency government and organizers hope that Deli Serdang's representatives will subsequently advance to the national-level competition in Manado in 2027.
SUPPORT FOR THE PESPARANI FESTIVAL: Second Deputy Chairman of the LP3KD of Deli Serdang Regency, Indra Gunawan Tarigan, expresses his appreciation for the regency government's support in organizing the first Pesparani festival. (PHOTO: Edi Saputra)
Four Competition Categories Featured
For its inaugural edition, the organizing committee has established four competition categories involving participants from various parishes. These include the adult mixed choir, psalm singing, religious quizzes, and Bible reading.
The various competitions provide participants with opportunities to showcase their abilities while deepening their understanding of religious teachings and values. Beyond pursuing strong competition results, participants are also encouraged to use the event as an opportunity to build fellowship and uphold fairness and sportsmanship.
The second deputy chairman of the Regional Institution for the Development and Promotion of Catholic Pesparani (LP3KD) in Deli Serdang Regency, Indra Gunawan Tarigan, expressed his gratitude to the regent and all staff members of the regency government for supporting the first Pesparani festival.
He explained that the regency government's support demonstrated its attention to the Catholic community while providing opportunities for its members to participate actively in religious activities throughout the region.
"We would like to thank the regent and all staff members of the regency government who have supported this event. For us Catholics in Deli Serdang, this is a great honor," he said.
Indra also encouraged all participants to take part in the competitions enthusiastically, deliver their best performances, and consistently uphold the principles of fair play throughout the event.
CALL TO CATHOLIC BELIEVERS TO BECOME AMBASSADORS OF PEACE: Second Deputy Chairman of the LP3KD of North Sumatra Province, Bonaraja Purba, encourages Catholic believers to promote peace, harmony, and tolerance within Deli Serdang's diverse society. (PHOTO: Edi Saputra)
Strengthening Brotherhood and Religious Tolerance
Meanwhile, the second deputy chairman of the LP3KD of North Sumatra Province, Bonaraja Purba, emphasized that Pesparani is not merely a religious celebration or a church music competition. Rather, it provides an important opportunity to strengthen faith, promote brotherhood, and preserve peaceful coexistence among religious communities.
He explained that Deli Serdang's ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity gives Pesparani an important role in strengthening social cohesion. Through this event, the Catholic community is expected to contribute to maintaining harmonious relationships within society.
Bonaraja encouraged Catholic believers not only to develop their spiritual lives but also to take an active role in promoting peaceful and tolerant coexistence in their respective communities.
"We encourage Catholic believers to become ambassadors of peace, harmony, and tolerance amid the diverse society of Deli Serdang," Bonaraja stated.
He also commended the Deli Serdang Regency Government for its support in fostering religious communities and organizing the Pesparani festival. The assistance included moral and material support, as well as the provision of facilities needed to ensure the smooth running of the event.
"We would like to express our gratitude to the regent. The moral and material support, along with the facilities provided, are concrete evidence that the government takes responsibility for all religious communities. This cooperation demonstrates that the
Deli Serdang Regency Government stands alongside the people in both material and spiritual development," he concluded.
The inaugural Pesparani festival in Deli Serdang Regency is expected to mark the beginning of the continued development of religious activities in the region. In addition to strengthening the Catholic community, the festival is also intended to make a tangible contribution to preserving social diversity, fostering brotherhood, and promoting peaceful coexistence throughout Deli Serdang. (IDNC)
REPORTER:
Edi Saputra | EDITOR:
Fik Sagala