One of the challenges that migrants face as they go far away from their native land is how to find a place where they can worship and express themselves. Although they always have a place in any Christian community, they can miss expressing themselves in their native languages, songs and prayers.
In 2009, a group of Africans from Ghana and Nigeria began to praise and worship at St. Thomas More, Cherry Hill, every Sunday in their native language under the spiritual leadership of Father George Donkor Tang, assisted by Deacon Vincent Okoro.
Father George, who then was a chaplain at Virtua Hospital in Voorhees and in residence at St. Thomas More, offered his service to minister to them. Consequently, they could experience a taste of the African Masses that they missed from their native homes.
When Father George was called back to Ghana by his bishop, Corlis Sellers, then Black Catholic Commission director, asked me to continue with the ministry to the African communities. Deacon Vincent Okoro and I offered to have Mass for them in African tradition every second Sunday of the month at 2 p.m. in St. Charles Borromeo, Sicklerville. Originally we gathered as a small group in the chapel at St. Charles Borromeo but in the last three years the community has grown tremendously. The group has elected their own leaders in charge of different ministries, including Dr. James Nwachuwu (Nigeria) as the president and Alex Yiadom (Ghana) as the vice president.
Members come from different countries of Africa, the United States and the Caribbean and from different parishes in the Camden Diocese and Philadelphia Archdiocese. They have formed their own mission statement: The mission of the African American/Caribbean Catholic Community of the Diocese of Camden is to minister to the spiritual, emotional and intellectual needs of all people, proclaim the Gospel of Christ through services as true stewards and ambassadors of Christ; and provide guidance that is bounded by the love of Christ and our Catholic heritage.
Known as “The African-American-Caribbean Catholic Community of South Jersey and Philadelphia,” the group is developing its own website.
Members gather together to worship at 2 p.m. on the second Sunday of the month, followed by fellowship characterized by a pot luck dinner of African foods and beverages and to the tunes of African music. Different traditional attire and dress are in display as members hail from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Cameroun, the United States and the Caribbean. It‘s awesome to hear the different languages as members offer the prayer of the faithful in their native language. What an amazing experience of the oneness of faith and the universality of the Catholic Church.
Recently a Mass was celebrated in honor of the mothers, and all the mothers lined up in procession with lit candles, singing songs as they marched in church in their colored native dresses. Father George Dongkor Tang, who came for a two month visit, was the main celebrant. I assisted.
Father George was grateful that the group has continued to grow and encouraged those present to evangelize and invite other African-American-Caribbean brothers and sisters to enjoy the common fellowship and faith being offered to them every second Sunday of the month. After Mass, the men treated the women to delicious African-American dishes from the different native countries.
On June 14, the members will gather again at St. Charles Borromeo at 2 p.m. to celebrate Father’s Day. Father Michael Ezeatu, who hails from Nigeria and serves as a chaplain at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, Camden, will be the main celebrant and homilist.
There is also a planned family-picnic day for the weekend of Aug. 15 at Washington Township. This will be the second family picnic organized by the group.
The members continue to invite and promote the community to all African-American-Caribbean’s in New Jersey, Philadelphia, New York, Washington and Catholics in other areas who wish to celebrate, worship and experience Mass in their African traditions. Different priests of the diocese from Africa alternate to provide homilies and serve as main celebrants. St. Charles Borromeo is situated on 176 Stage Coach Road, Sicklerville. For information, call Father Vincent Orum, AJ at 856-294-8124.
Father Vincent Orum, AJ is parochial vicar at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Galloway.
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