Photo By Michael Alexander

The local Hispanic music ministry known as EMA is asking for online support so its original song “La Red” (“The Net”) is among those chosen for World Youth Day in Madrid.

Composed by Elmer A. Menjivar and Leonardo Jaramillo, “La Red” is among over 75 original spiritual songs posted at a website called Tune Into Madrid. The top five songs chosen will be made a part of World Youth Day, which will be held Aug. 15 to 21.

“La Red” is currently number 13. To hear the musicians and vote for the song, visit www.madridmeencanta.org. The website can be viewed in several languages. The deadline to vote is April 30.

EMA, which stands for Emmanuel Ministerio de Alabanza, is a group of nine musicians and singers, led by Menjivar. They provide music at the 7:30 p.m. Sunday Mass at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Smyrna and at bilingual parish Masses. They have also played during the opening procession of the Eucharistic Congress of the archdiocese and in the Spanish track for several years.

The group, which includes men and women, uses drums, piano, percussion, saxophone and guitar in its music.

They are raising funds so they can attend World Youth Day and having a song selected could also assist at least one person from the group to receive a free trip.

Their music has also captured the attention of other World Youth Day planners.

A recent song he composed and they recorded called “Somos Su Pueblo,” which they posted on YouTube and sent to some Catholic television stations internationally, may be used in videos promoting World Youth Day, Menjivar said. He has been told it will be part of video publicity material sent out as the event draws closer.

Also Family Rosary International, led by Holy Cross Father James Phalan, has asked the group to be part of their street ministry and rosary-promotion work and to sing at their area during the Madrid event.

At World Youth Day, youth from around the world will gather with Pope Benedict XVI and each other in celebration of the love Christ has for them and of their Catholic faith.

Menjivar said “La Red” is written about Christ’s call to his disciples to throw their nets out into the deep and to reach those who need to know Christ and is also about creating that network that makes up a Christian community.