FITCHBURG – Africans took the presence of Christ to the streets Sunday, and shared their own presence, faith and culture.
They were participating in a Corpus Christi procession from St. Anthony of Padua Church. The procession, Mass and lunch brought Africans from different countries and parish communities together.
“It’s a means of making our presence as Africans known in the community, to make the presence of Christ known in the neighborhood, and especially within our own hearts,” Father Enoch K. Kyeremateng, diocesan African Ministry chaplain, told The Catholic Free Press before the celebration for the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ.
“The Eucharist brings us together as one – one in faith, one in hope and … as Africans,” he said. Natives of different countries would partake of spiritual food - the Eucharist at Mass - then share a meal for the feast day, to show their love and unity, he said.
Often Africans from St. Anthony’s travel to Worcester for joint events, Father Kyeremateng said. This time the three Worcester communities he oversees came to Fitchburg.
St. Anthony’s African community is very small, but there is a sense of fellowship there, Father Juan S. Ramirez, pastor of the parish, said as Mass began Sunday.
“It is a blessing and an honor … to have you here,” he told the Africans. “I’m so proud of the community that we have here. … This is your home.
“I want you to feel that we belong to the body of Christ. Eat with love, drink with love, receive Communion with love.”
The homilist, Father Francis Sarpong, visiting from the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York, also focused on the Eucharist – and culture.
‘We celebrate life’
“We are Africans … and we celebrate life,” he said. He reiterated Jesus’ message: “My body gives life; my blood gives life.” He said those who receive Jesus’ body and blood will have life in various ways: life everlasting, life in Christ, life in the Spirit and physical life that gives them vitality.
Jesus is “present among us; give him a chance,” he said. He spoke of hosts being multiplied at Communion time and of Jesus multiplying loaves and fishes while he lived on earth. Jesus can also multiply time, talent and treasure, Father Sarpong said. He encouraged listeners to be present to one another and spoke of God’s presence in families.
“I liked the way the Mass was done,” Fredrica Nwaura, of St. Andrew the Apostle Mission in Worcester, told The Catholic Free Press. “I also liked the homily. It was very good, especially for our youth.” Father Sarpong said he works with teenagers and was glad to see teenagers at Mass.
One of those teenagers – 15-year-old Samuel Ofori-Mensah, from St. Joan of Arc Parish in Worcester – eagerly shared his reaction to the celebration.
Beautiful gathering
“It’s very beautiful – all the African communities coming together to celebrate one Christ,” Samuel said. “The music, dancing, was all very beautiful. I’m honored to be a Mass server. I’m honored and I’m thankful that I serve Jesus Christ.”
Rebecca “Becky” Adjei-Nyame, a eucharistic minister from St. Joan of Arc’s Ghanaian community, said this was her first time serving as a bearer of the monstrance in procession.
“It’s amazing to be that close and carry him,” she said of Jesus, present in the host. “It dawned on me: ‘I’m not even worthy and I’m carrying you. … Forgive me and accept my unworthiness.’” She said she meditated quietly, then felt relief and joy.
She said that in Ghana there was a Corpus Christi procession, with altars along the route, every year.
“It reminded me of back home,” said Casmir Marwa, from Tanzania, treasurer of St. Anthony’s African community and a member of St. Leo Parish in Leominster. “I really miss that. It takes almost a whole day. … You need to give God every day … but, because of our busy schedule, at least one day.”
“I’ve been looking forward to this event; we enjoy celebrating the mysteries of our faith,” said Patricia Ogato, from Kenya, a catechist at St. Anthony’s. “It brings me closer to home in Africa, where we do this.”
St. Anthony’s African community has about 15 active members and they did their best to host so many people, she said. (More than 130 people joined the procession.) The other communities “really supported us … and I’m really grateful for them,” she said.
“I saw the universality of the Catholic Church,” said Augustine Kanjia from Sierra Leone, a lector at St. Paul Cathedral.
He said he asked a spectator if he knew what the procession was about, and the man didn’t. So, he told the man that people spoke in their own tongues at Pentecost and were doing so that day. (Participants prayed in their own languages.)
Mr. Kanjia, who was pleased to see friends he hasn’t seen in a while, said he asked a non-Catholic friend what she thought people were doing in the procession. She said they were carrying the body of Christ.
“I really felt like I was carrying the Christ, and it’s a good experience to be part of that,” said Monica Broni, a eucharistic minister from St. Joan of Arc who also helped bear the monstrance in the procession.