African Mass at Columbia Newman Center

As we come together to worship God, his grace will enable us to understand the real meaning of the law — love God, and love the law that we use to obey the Lord.”

Father Paulinus C. Aneke, PhD

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Members of St. Thomas More Newman Center Parish in Columbia gathered the afternoon of Sunday, Feb. 12, for an African Mass embracing the culture of the African students and parishioners and those who are of African heritage.

The Mass was part of the parish’s Black History Month observance.

Father Paulinus C. Aneke, PhD, a priest of the Diocese of Enugu, Nigeria, who was serving as associate pastor of the parish, presided and preached the homily.

Father Simon Jude Kanyke, a priest of the Archdiocese of Kampala, Uganda, who is associate pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Columbia, and Father Ignatius Nimwesiga, a priest of the Diocese of Mbarrara, Uganda, who is a chaplain at Fr. Tolton Regional Catholic High School in Columbia, concelebrated.

“Today, we hope to showcase the rich and diverse culture within Africa with our music and our traditional style of worship as Catholics back home,” a parishioner stated before Mass.

The choir led the singing of hymns and praise songs from various nations in Africa.

Fr. Aneke preached about choosing the road of discipleship and following it.

Meditating on that that Sunday’s reading from the Book of Sirach, he spoke of the choice God gives people every day, whether to follow his law and commands or not.

“He gives us that freedom,” said Fr. Aneke. “If you obey the commandments, you will live. If you don’t obey, there will also be consequences.”

At the same time, “Jesus wants the law to come from within us, not what is written on paper,” the priest stated. “We should obey the law and be happy.”

“We are praying this Mass for the grace of God,” he noted. “As we come together to worship God, his grace will enable us to understand the real meaning of the law — love God, and love the law that we use to obey the Lord.”

Several parishioners prayed the General Intercessions in languages spoken in various parts of Africa, including Igala from north-central Nigeria, Ibo from southeast Nigeria, Libala from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Swahili from Kenya, and Twi from Ghana.

After Mass, congregants gathered for a reception in the Newman Center’s Multipurpose Room.