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We, the
Editorial board of Magazine Tap Chi Ca Dao, want to extend our most
welcoming hand to Ngoc Bich Ngan, the singer, songwriter and artist to join
our Editorial Board.
We came to know our gracious and amiable Ngoc Bich Ngan through her
numerous writings and short novels. The decision to invite her to join my
team was made after observing her impressive and heart felt performance at
the 2002 World Youth Day in Toronto, after visiting her homepage and
conversing with her in person.
We would like to briefly introduce Ngoc Bich Ngan to all the members and readers of our Magazine.
In 2002, The Holy Father Pope Jean Paul II came to Canada, Toronto. There
was something special about music of WYD2002 that really left a lasting good
memory with many Canadian pilgrims. It was a wonderful re-union and great
witness of the universal Church: performing artists from around the world, France, Germany, Vietnam, Brazil, Poland, Portugal, Italy, Japan, across the
US and Canada came together to honor the Holy Father and to share their
faith, hope and charity with sincere joy and happiness. For Vietnamese
Canadians living in Toronto, this was a special occasion for them to witness
the joyful performances of many well-known oversea Vietnamese singers.
Among all the big names of Vietnamese singers and artists such as Khanh Ly and Nguyen Ngoc Ngan (MC, Thuy Nga Music Production), ... the pilgrims around the world witnessed a rising star of a Vietnamese singer and artist, delicate features, graceful manners, the little flower Ngoc Bich Ngan, carrying the baptized names Martha, St. Therese of the Infant Jesus.
Ngoc Bich Ngan was assigned by Vicar of the Parish, Father JosephTran Xuan Lam, to participate as a singer in WYD, to sing for the Mission of St Martyrs du Viet-Nam, Diocese in Toronto. Her chosen song to celebrate this event was “T́nh Chúa” (Love of God).
Ngoc Bich Ngan came to the world of art, music and literature at a very young age. When she was about 10 years old, she won the prestigious Top Award of Golden Voice given by Montreal Vietnamese Canadian Community in 1981, organized for young Vietnamese Canadians under the age of 14 years old. She then actively participated in many Montreal’s Catholic Youth events where she contributed in leading role as Performing Artist in the city’s Catholic Church and College activities. At 9, while still in her homeland, she was chosen among students her class to participate in a writing competition with other schools in her mother-tongue.
I asked Ngoc
Bich Ngan, how she did she feel about her contribution to the WYD in
Toronto, she answered:
“…as a
Catholic and as a singer, it is my duty to add a very small part to the
event. Ngan think that we do not necessarily need to wait for the big
things to come to show our love to others, but we can always focus on doing,
helping every very little things even the smallest things, to show and tell
to people that we do care and love them.
Today. my intentions are to be with my people, to sing to glorify The
Generosity of My God, to adore my Lovely Virgin Mary, to bring joy to the
audience and all pilgrims with my performance, and of course, to be Blessed
by the Holy Father, Pope Jean Paul II whom I love dearly.
… tears were in my eyes when his motorcade came close to me. I could not describe how I was deeply touched when could see his tender eyes with love and compassion looked toward me. …So moved by his loving kindness… .”
We, as Vietnamese Catholics are very proud of Ngoc Bich Ngan, the Little Flower… It reminds me of the words of Saint Therese of Infant Jesus:
"Love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show my love? Great deeds are forbidden me. The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least actions for love”.