Synod theme to get Africans talking

BY Tanya Connor | THE CATHOLIC FREE PRESS 

In this new year, the Worcester Diocese’s African Ministry is planning Masses and listening sessions to promote the theme of the upcoming worldwide synod and to evangelize Africans locally. 

The ministry annually chooses a theme and conducts activities that correspond with it. 

Throughout this liturgical year, which began with Advent, the ministry will reflect on the synod’s theme, “For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission,” said Father Enoch K. Kyeremateng, African Ministry chaplain. 

Preparations for the October 2023 worldwide synod began last October at the Vatican, around the world, and in the diocese. Bishop McManus opened the diocesan phase of the “synodal journey” by celebrating a Mass of the Holy Spirit at St. Paul Cathedral, which parish representatives attended.  

The bishop asked pastors to lead their parishes in exploring the question, “What have we done to become missionary disciples of Jesus Christ?”  

Father Kyeremateng said representatives from the African Ministry’s communities are preparing to meet to discuss their needs and, if asked, the ministry’s board would present its findings as part of the diocesan phase of the synod. Throughout the year the board members will be seeking Africans’ suggestions for improving local outreach.    

Another thing Bishop McManus asked, in light of the synod, was for priests to encourage people to renew their participation in Mass, Father Kyeremateng said.   

The Africans are to reflect on their participation at Mass and discuss how to be in communion, coming together, praying for one another, “cherishing the gift of the Eucharist that binds us together … the source and summit … of all that we do,” Father Kyeremateng said. 

He noted that in “Ecclesia in Africa,” an apostolic exhortation promulgated in 1995 after a synod on the Church in Africa, Pope John Paul II said the new evangelization aims to build up the Church as family, avoiding ethnocentrism and trying to encourage reconciliation and communion among the different ethnic groups.   

Pope Francis speaks of evangelization as a collective effort, Father Kyeremateng said, so the Africans are looking at the laity’s role in promoting solidarity and fraternity.  

“Our lifestyle ... our attitude, should be a light to the many Africans in our diocese who have left the Church,” he said. “If we are not united, how can we do that? … Disunity is a scandal. Backbiting is a scandal.” 

The African community wants to bring people back to the Church, “so that together we can all participate in communion,” he said. 

So he is planning worship and listening sessions to seek God’s guidance and ideas from four groups within the African community: leaders, specific associations, youth, and senior citizens.  

Father Kyeremateng said these gatherings are to include people from the four churches that are part of the diocese’s African Ministry: St. Andrew the Apostle Mission, St. Joan of Arc Parish and St. Paul Cathedral, all in Worcester, and St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Fitchburg.  

LEADERS 

An April 9 retreat and seminar for leaders “is to help us to reflect on our call to leadership, leading people to God,” and on promoting the synod theme and renewing participation in Mass, Father Kyeremateng said. Leaders will discuss questions in small groups and offer suggestions, which they will pray about, seeking God’s direction for implementation, he said. 

GROUPS 

Father Kyeremateng said he will celebrate Mass for the African community’s different groups, including the charismatic renewal, the Catholic Men’s Fellowship, the St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Society that prays for priests, and the St. Vincentia Group for people in their 30s and 40s.  

Before the pandemic, he celebrated Mass for the different groups, but this year he will also stay for their meetings and listen to them, he said. 

YOUTH 

Father Kyeremateng said that in June there will be a Mass of Thanksgiving for a successful school year for the Young Professionals (college students), and he and the African Ministry board will listen to suggestions for addressing challenges they face. In August there will be a Mass for blessings for the new school year.  

Youth coordinators are to encourage teenagers to serve at Mass and seek their input for ministry to their peers. That information will be shared with the diocesan youth ministry office, he said. 

Leaders of younger children will attend the leaders’ seminar, Father Kyeremateng said. African communities already have children’s Masses and children serving at Masses. 

The African Ministry is also planning to have the Catholic Schools Office give parents a seminar about the importance of sending their children to Catholic schools, partially because of poor sexual education programs in public schools. 

SENIOR CITIZENS 

On Easter Monday, Father Kyeremateng said, he will celebrate a special Mass for senior citizens. There will also be a social, which, because of the pandemic, they haven’t held since 2019. He and the African Ministry board will listen to their advice. 

“They have a lot of experience to share with us, a lot of faith to share with us,” he said.  

After hearing suggestions from the various groups “we will implement what will help deepen the faith of the African communities,” Father Kyeremateng said.