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September 12, 2019
By Augustine Kanjia
Special to The Catholic Free Press
WORCESTER – Bishop McManus’ visit to the Ghanaian community at St. Joan of Arc Parish Aug. 25 continued a tradition dear to the people.
Parishioner Simon Asamoah said having the bishop celebrate with them was an honor and it enkindled their faith.
“I am very blessed, and people share how blessed and excited they have been since the bishop started visiting them last year,” he said. “Back at home in Ghana, we get the chance to see and interact with our bishop once a year. So, for me and many, it is a spiritual feeling and gladness to receive my bishop’s blessing at least once a year, and I pray it continues every year for us. We need that.”
Father Enoch K. Kyeremateng, chaplain of the diocesan African Ministry, thanked the bishop for his time, prayers, love and kindness to the African Ministry.
“I know we, the immigrants in your diocese, are very dear to your precious heart and we are forever grateful to you for your pastoral care and shepherding role,” he said. “God bless your tremendous work.”
He said this was one of the annual visits Bishop McManus makes to the African communities to celebrate Mass and enable the people to interact with their bishop. The bishop recently visited the community at St. Andrew the Apostle, a mission of St. Peter Parish, he noted.
Father Kyeremateng said he attaches great importance to these Masses because they bring unity, a sense of belonging and joy to the community.
Nicolas Obeng, the president of the community, and his vice president, Raymond Ansong, expressed their appreciation to Bishop McManus on behalf of the community and asked for more of such visits.
Concelebrating the Mass at St. Joan of Arc with Bishop McManus and Father Kyeremateng were other African priests: Jesuit Father Reginald B. Tiesaah and Assumptionist Father Peter Omwoyo.
Bishop McManus said he would preach about the opening prayer: “O God, who cause the minds of the faithful to unite in a single purpose, grant your people to love what you command and to desire what you promise, that, amid the uncertainties of this world, our hearts may be fixed on that place where true gladness is found.”
The bishop raised three questions. What does God actually command? What does God promise us? Where is that place where true happiness is found?
Bishop McManus said there are stories in the Gospel in which Christ was asked: “What is the greatest commandment?” Jesus’ answer was: “You are to love the Lord your God with all your heart … You must love your neighbor.” But that is hard to do. There are so many distractions: family concerns, demands of our work. And yet, in the midst of it all, we can reflect on the fact that we live in the presence of God and he holds us in the palm of his hand.
Answering the first question, “What does God actually command?” Bishop McManus said, “God loves me so much he can’t take his eyes off me. We can lift our mind and heart unconditionally to God, and show that love to God.”
About God’s promise, Bishop McManus said that, for those who love God, who try with his grace to live according to his will, everything works out for the good.
Speaking about the third question, Bishop McManus said if we keep our hearts and minds fixed on the Lord Jesus, he will lead us through life and, at the moment of our death, take us by the hand. He said true happiness is found in heaven, in the presence of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Quoting the great African bishop, Saint Augustine, he said, “You have created us for yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.”
Augustine Kanjia is a parishioner at St. Paul Cathedral.