Original Composition  ·  2026  ·  Sacred Music

​

Our Hands, His Plans is an original sacred composition by Gerard Isaac Wong, written for the 180th-anniversary celebrations of St Joseph’s Church, Bukit Timah, Singapore. Dedicated to St Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary, the work reflects on faith, trust, and surrender to God’s providence through a musical dialogue between the two holy figures.

​
 

The Musical Concept
 

The composition gives voice to the distinct yet complementary perspectives of St Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Joseph’s verses reflect the dignity of labour, his responsibility as guardian of the Holy Family, and the uncertainty of a future entrusted to God. Mary’s responses express prayerful trust, faithful acceptance, and openness to God’s plan.
 

As their voices come together in the refrain, the two perspectives become a shared affirmation of faith: human effort and divine providence are not opposed, but brought together through trust in God. The title, Our Hands, His Plans, captures this relationship between the work entrusted to human hands and the greater purpose that unfolds beyond human understanding.
 

Written within the context of a parish anniversary, the work also reflects the example of St Joseph as a faithful guardian and earthly father, alongside the Blessed Virgin Mary’s enduring witness of faith and obedience.

 

Premiere and Performance
 

St Joseph’s Church, Bukit Timah

The composition was written for the parish’s 180th-anniversary celebrations and premiered at its anniversary dinner as part of the wider musical project My Hands, His Plans. The larger production explores the life of St Joseph through music, storytelling, and community participation.
 

Catholic Theological Institute of Singapore

On 22 August 2026, Our Hands, His Plans was presented at the Catholic Theological Institute of Singapore’s Bi-Annual Dinner, performed by Gerard Wong alongside mezzo-soprano Esther Jong as part of a programme presented by Stella Æterna Consort.
 

The programme opened with Franz Schubert’s Ave Maria and George Frideric Handel’s He Shall Feed His Flock from Messiah, before concluding with Gerard’s original composition. The performance brought a contemporary sacred work into dialogue with established classical repertoire, reflecting the continuing place of new music within the sacred musical tradition.

 

Listen to the Composition

Listen on Spotify
 

​