African Catholics to celebrate faith, culture
on Aug. 20

By Mary Ann Wyand

African Catholics now living in central and southern Indiana will celebrate their faith, culture and friendship during a Mass and reception on Aug. 20 at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis.

The eucharistic liturgy and celebration of African traditions will begin at 3 p.m. with Mass concelebrated by African priests ministering in the archdiocese.

Father Kenneth Taylor, director of the archdiocesan Office of Multicultural Ministry and pastor of Holy Angels Parish in Indianapolis, also will concelebrate the second annual African Mass at St. Andrew Church, located at 4052 E. 38th St.

He said the liturgy will conclude with the blessing of 12 delegates who will represent the African Catholic Ministry in the archdiocese during the African National Eucharistic Congress on Sept. 2-3 at The Catholic University of America and Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, both in Washington, D.C.

A reception in the parish hall will feature authentic African food and entertainment, including a fashion show. Participants are encouraged to dress in traditional, brightly colored African attire.

The celebration is free and open to anyone who would like to join the African Catholics in prayer, worship and song. Reservations are requested, and a free-will donation is appreciated to help cover the cost of food served at the reception.

Father Taylor said the celebration will help African Catholics meet other immigrants and become more involved in Church activities.

“The African presence in the United States is growing,” Father Taylor said, “and a good number of those who are coming [to this country] are Catholic.

“This was the motivation behind having the African National Eucharistic Congress” in the nation’s capital, he said. “Dioceses across the country are beginning ministries to this group of immigrants.”

Keynote speakers at the national congress are both African and African-American. Participants will celebrate the gifts that African Catholics bring to the Church in the United States.

“Through this Mass and the event that follows, we hope to let the African immigrants in our archdiocese know that the Church is here for them as well.”

The celebration will feature praying and singing in several tribal languages, he said, to reflect the beauty and diversity of the African Catholic culture.

“Another important part of the celebration is connecting the African immigrants with the African-American population, especially within the Church,” Father Taylor said. “The immigrants have made a lot of changes in their lives, and this is a chance for them to make new friends and reconnect with some of the traditions in the liturgy of their homeland.”

The archdiocesan celebration also reinforces the fact that “the Catholic Church can incorporate a wide variety of traditions in liturgies and still be authentically Catholic,” he said. “One of the signs of the strength of the Catholic Church within the immigrant community is that in the archdiocese we are seeing an increase in African priests who are serving here.”

Sister Demetria Smith, a Missionary Sister of Our Lady of Africa and mission educator for the archdiocese, said the liturgy will include prayers of thanksgiving and African praise music in the Zulu language from South Africa; the Igbo language from Nigeria in West Africa; the Mina language from Togo; the Swahili language from East Africa; and the Luganda, Acholi, Ateso and Runyoro/Rutooro tribal languages from Uganda in East Africa.

Traditional clothing and dances will add to the festivities, she said, as the people celebrate their faith in the ways they have known and loved all their lives.

Celebrating the Eucharist in the African liturgical style gives the immigrants hope, she said, and fosters unity and diversity.

“This authentic African experience of the eucharistic liturgy will honor many African cultures,” Sister Demetria said. “The celebration is a wonderful coming together for the African people here. As Church, we need to be in contact with the people to build relationships and let them know that we are here to help them in the ways that they need help. That’s very important.”

(For more information, call the archdiocesan Office of Multicultural Ministry at 317-236-1562 or 800-382-9836, ext. 1562. Reservations are requested by calling Sally Stovall, event coordinator, at 317-269-1276 or Sister Demetria Smith, a Missionary Sister of Our Lady of Africa and mission educator for the archdiocese, at 317-261-3366.) †