WAVE Studio
The Pakistan Catholic bishops' national audiovisual center WAVE (Workshop Audio Visual Education) has worked effectively for social harmony and professionalism during its 25 years.[1]
Jesuit Father Jean Desautels started WAVE in June 1977 on the premises of St. Mary's Minor Seminary, Lahore, initially producing only audiocassettes. Its motto is "Peace through music."
The studio began with the aim of producing Catholic religious and liturgical hymns, but later opened its facilities for audiovisual productions by organizations outside the Church. Many Muslim performers have also contributed to WAVE's Christian audiocassettes. State-run Pakistan Television and Radio Pakistan, and many film producers use the studio to make quality recordings.
Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha outfitted WAVE with digital equipment as its former manager and executive secretary of the communications commission before his episcopal ordination. It is located in Rabita Manzil, the commission's national office in Lahore.
Muneeza Hashmi, general manager of Pakistan Television Corporation in Lahore, attended the anniversary celebration at St. Anthony's College and commended the studio for its professionalism, organization and teamwork.
Father Franz-Josef Eilers, executive secretary of the Office of Social Communications of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences, also lauded WAVE's involvement of local talent to produce music for the local needs.
Siriwan Santisakultham, president of SIGNIS Asia, the regional segment of the World Catholic Association for Communication, was also impressed by WAVE's development.
Father Nadeem John Shakir was the director of WAVE from 2002 to 2005.[2]
In 1990, it ventured into video and has produced 21 films. One of the two documentaries produced this year is on AIDS.
In 2000, a compact disk section was added that has produced four audio CDs on the Psalms, Christmas and common hymns.
At the event, Radio Veritas Asia presented 10 awards, each with a 4,000-rupee prize, to musicians, lyricists and producers.
The National Catholic Social Communication Centre (Rabita Manzil) gave out 20 awards also with 4,000-rupee prizes and another 40 without the prizes to people who have worked with distinction for WAVE Studio during last 25 years.[3]
The 15th anniversary of the National Catholic Office for Social Communications, was celebrated on November 24, 2006. Some 80 participants were on hand for the launch of a DVD with performances of Church music - the first DVD produced by WAVE studio. Housed in the office is also the annual magazine of the Radio Veritas Asia Urdu Service. In 1986, the social communications director, Fr. Lawrence Saldanha commissioned the construction of Rabita Manzil, which was completed in 1991.[4]
The 20th anniversary of the Urdu-language broadcast service of Radio Veritas Asia was celebrated on August 13, 2007 at WAVE studio. Most programs for Radio Veritas Asia's Urdu service, broadcast from the Philippines, are recorded at the WAVE studio.[5]
SIGNIS has been funding all the productions of WAVE ever since it started in 1977. So far, we have produced 124 audio cassettes, 22 video cassettes, 30 VCDs and six DVDs. These include six albums for children containing songs about ethics and morals.[6]
WAVE celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2007. It plans to develop a series of programs for the Cable Television Network on a weekly basis. WAVE is now preparing 52 programs on Christianity in the Urdu language.[7]
"Songs of the Word of God" is a new CD with liturgical and non-liturgical music, produced by the studio in 2012. The main channel of distribution for the studio’s products is the shops of the Daughters of St. Paul.[8]