Black History Month Mass energizes congregation

SOMERSET — Though the liturgical calendar declared Feb. 16 the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, the evening’s Mass in St. Matthias Church was anything but ordinary. Instead, the preaching, prayers, native costumes and, above all, the music, blended  into a diverse yet unifying celebration of black history and Catholic faith.

Principal celebrant of the liturgy, which drew faithful from throughout the diocese, was Father Alphonsus M. Kariuki, pastor, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Dunellen. Father Abraham Orapankal, administrator of St. Matthias Parish, concelebrated. Deacon Enock Berluche Sr., who exercises his ministry St. Philips and St. James Parish, Phillipsburg, assisted.

Father Kariuki and Deacon Berluche serve as co-coordinator of the diocesan African American, African and Caribbean Apostolate.

“It is a blessing to be here,” Deacon Berluche said to the congregation. “We are the fulfillment of Christ’s prayer, ‘Father, let us be one.’”

At times during the uplifting multilingual celebration of faith, it was difficult to determine where the members of the choirs or dancers ended and the congregation began. From the first notes of “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” which details the faith of the black community despite their struggles, through melodies reflective to Kenya, the Caribbean, Nigeria, and American Gospel music, the entire church community resounded in multilingual harmonies. The St. Matthias Diversity Choir, led by Joan Best Seamon, director of sacred music at the parish, and the Umoja Imani Gospel Choir, conducted by Aaron Brown, led the congregation in sung praise.

The faithful stood and swayed in their pews along with the Kenyan Catholic worshippers, clad in brilliant blue outfits and headdresses embossed with “Pray Without Ceasing.” The dancers rhythmically marched the Book of the Gospels toward the celebrants while singing “Let the Gospel go forth. It burns, it’s effective, it’s hot” in the Kiswahili tongue. The singing of gospel tunes prompted spontaneously uplifted hands and cries of “Yes, Lord!” as the choir shared their talents at Communion.

In his homily, Father Kariuki shared the conversation he had had with fellow delegates to the recent National Black Catholic Congress in Baltimore wherein they had been surprised at the small number of active black Catholics in our diocese.

“There is so much joy in our celebration,” the priest said. “Deacon Enock and myself would like to have a Mass like this once a month or every other month, either here at St. Matthias or at St. John’s, my parish, if this pastor would let us,” to which Father Orapankal smiled and vigorously nodded.
Father Kariuki detailed the struggles blacks brought to this country as slaves had experienced, but added, “We are not here to celebrate our painful past, and we are happy to share who we are and what we have.”

Reading a list of names of famous and influential African American business executives, entertainers, sports figures and politicians, Father Kariuki also shared the names of African Americans for whom the Catholic Church was considering sainthood, including the venerable Father Augustus Tolton, first black priest in the United States; philanthropists Venerable Pierre Toussaint and Servant of God Julia Greeley, and Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman, an educator and evangelist.

“Pray for them and to them,” Father Kariuki said. “Let us pray for them to be accepted to the sainthood for the glory of His name.”

The symbolism of fire was invoked at the intercessions were read. One by one, long tapers inserted into a candelabra were lit as the congregation prayed the “Nguzo Saba” and requested strength to achieve unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, purpose, creativity and faith.

“Keep the fire burning when you leave this place,” Deacon Berluche said. “We can overcome racism and division. We must be light and salt. Don’t let your light dim; don’t let what you have in you tonight dim.”

Attendees took the deacon’s words to heart: choir members broke into song after Mass, while others greeted long-time friends and new acquaintances.

Leslie Perrin chatted happily with family members from Edison she had not seen in a while. The woman, whose ancestors hailed from Botswana said, “Anything like this of African heritage interests me.”

Mennah Saidi journeyed from St. Mary Parish, New Brunswick, to attend the celebration, and expressed her pleasure that such Masses might become a regular occurrence. “I enjoy the fellowship and learning about different cultures,” she said.