Africans worship with Bishop

By Tanya Connor
The Catholic Free Press

An African cab driver in Washington, D.C., impressed Bishop McManus, so he told local Africans about him.
The Worcester Diocese’s shepherd was preaching at a special Mass Sunday afternoon at St. Paul Cathedral for members of the diocese’s African communities.
Those communities – from St. Peter Parish/St. Andrew the Apostle Mission, St. Joan of Arc and St. Paul’s in Worcester, and St. Anthony of Padua in Fitchburg – get together with the bishop at Mass at the cathedral every two years, said Father Enoch K. Kyeremateng, chaplain of the diocese’s African Ministry, who estimated about 400 people attended. Such a gathering has not been held for a few years because of the pandemic.
“It’s a privilege to have the chief shepherd,” Father Kyeremateng told The Catholic Free Press last week. “He’s coming at a very important time” – during the three-year National Eucharistic Revival and preceding the local African Catholics’ Year of the Eucharist, which is to start Nov. 27, the first Sunday of Advent.
Preaching last Sunday about the day’s Gospel reading, Bishop McManus noted, “Jesus said, ‘No servant can serve two masters. … You cannot serve both God and worldly things.’”
The bishop said Jesus asks “you and me” the same question he asked his disciples: “Are you with me or are you against me? Have you placed your faith completely in me to lead you to heaven? Or will you follow another path?”
Bishop McManus shared an example of this: An African cab driver in Washington, D.C., who picked him up last week after a bishops’ meeting, told how he went to seminary, but had to leave because his family was impoverished. He married, he and his wife came to the United States, and he worked several jobs to send his children to Catholic school so they could learn the way to heaven.
That driver had met and fallen in love with Jesus and chose Jesus to be his way, truth and life, Bishop McManus said. He said the Eucharist helps us know Jesus more deeply, as he leads us home to heaven.
At the end of Mass Anthony Adade, chairman of the diocesan African community’s board of trustees and a member of St. Paul’s, told the youth that they are appreciated. He expressed support for Father Kyeremateng and Bishop McManus and Partners in Charity.
Bishop McManus also presented Emelia Adams of the Ghanaian community with a papal apostolic blessing for her 50th birthday, which was Aug. 28.

Father Kyeremateng told The Catholic Free Press he applies for such blessings for his people’s special occasions when they request it. Since this one arrived Friday, he had the bishop present it on Sunday.

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