Corpus Christi is a lively celebration at African Mass

Symbolic gifts are brought forward during the offertory procession by, from left, Almaz Kifiu of Eletria, Africa, and Amanda Strong and Loyce Moore of Holy Angels Parish in Indianapolis.

By Margaret Nelson (Special to The Criterion)

Prayer, music, drums and liturgical dance enlivened the African Mass for the feast of Corpus Christi on June 10 at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Indianapolis.

In his homily, Father Pascal Nduka, associate pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Indianapolis, welcomed those who had come “to celebrate the Africa-ness in us, especially on this day when the Church celebrates the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.”

Father Nduka said he has discovered that a lot of Catholics don’t really understand the true meaning of the Eucharist.

“Today, the Church wants us to reflect on our call to Christian life,” Father Nduka said. “The Eucharist is the summit and center, the beginning and end of our lives as Christians.

“It is the Holy Eucharist that makes the Catholic Church different than other Churches,” he said. “It is the symbol of unity—body and soul—to unite us with him.”

As commentator, Holy Angels parishioner Connie Morris explained that Sunday’s liturgy was meant to combine the African heritage with the Catholic faith.

The Word of God is carried in procession in an African food basket to remind those assembled that the Scriptures are the source of their spiritual nourishment.

Ugandan drum rhythms called the assembly to prayer. Children participated in liturgical dance before Mass and during the Gospel acclamation. Women religious members of the African Catholic Choir led the offertory procession with joyful strides.

While the worship aid offered English translations, African natives read and sang in their languages used in Africa—Acholi, Ateso, French, Igbo, Mina, Luganda, Swahili and Zulu. The assembly was encouraged to participate in an African praise medley in five of the native tongues: “We Are Walking in the Light of God.”

The Apostles Creed and Our Father were sung in Latin, and a chorus accompanied the religious sisters during the offertory dance with “Twende Tumutolee” (“Let Us Go to Offer Him”) in Swahili.

Music during the sign of peace was from Uganda, “Aminanara,” and during meditation, “Abum Achi-cha Di Ndu” (“I am the Living Bread from Heaven”).

The liturgy was coordinated by the archdiocesan African Catholic Ministry.

The presider for the African Gaba Mass was Father Mike Onwuegbuzie from Nigeria, associate pastor of SS. Francis and Clare Parish in Greenwood.

Concelebrants included four of the 13 African priests serving in Indianapolis—Fathers Gerald Okeke and Christopher Anumata, serving at St. Lawrence Parish; Father Vincent Amusuo at Holy Angels Parish; and Father Michael Osemene at St. Jude Parish.

Also concelebrating were Comboni Father Michael Barton, an Indianapolis native who has served 25 years in the Sudan; Father John Beitans, pastor of St. Lawrence Parish in Indianapolis; and Father Kenneth Taylor, director of the archdiocesan Office of Multicultural Ministry and pastor of Holy Angels Parish.

Sally Stovall from Nigeria, chair of the African Catholic Ministry, offered the first reading in Igbo. The second reading was read in Luganda by Christine Kateregga.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Reparatrix Sister Christine Nantaba from Uganda, past president of the African Catholic Ministry, who ministered at Holy Angels School for 16 years, led the African Catholic Choir and helped plan the liturgy with Stovall, a fellow parishioner from Nigeria, who coordinated the children’s dancing.

Stovall told the assembly about the history of the local African Catholic Ministry since it began in 2003. Membership is open to all who wish to consider issues that are important to African Catholics in the archdiocese, and to help them offer their gifts and talents to the local Church.

“The choir was unbelievable,” Stovall said after the liturgy. “They had to learn all those languages in a short time.”

Stovall said the children’s dances were wonderful and she enjoyed the enthusiasm of the sisters who danced during the Mass.

“They all pulled together to make it a memorable event,” she said.

The assembly went forth with a Lugandan recessional song, “Mweraba,” with its chorus: “Farewell—I am sending you off to the whole world. Go and preach the Gospel—to the whole world.”

(Margaret Nelson is a member of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis.) †