LAWRENCEVILLE—A lively liturgy lit up St. Lawrence Church on Sept. 26 as Pan African Catholic communities of the Archdiocese of Atlanta celebrated their cultural heritage.

The Pan African Mass featured an array of music and dancing in the Lawrenceville parish. Prayers offered in seven languages represented the different nations of the Pan African Catholic Organization of Atlanta.

Bishop John N. Tran was the celebrant. A dinner reception followed with performances and recognition of the participating communities.

In his homily, Bishop Tran praised the cultural richness the communities brought to the liturgy while pointing to faith as their bond.

“You all bring the richness of your heritage and your culture, but also very importantly something greater than that gathers us here, and that is your faith in Jesus Christ,” he said.

For Thomas Fagbamiye, a Nigerian and Georgia resident for more than 41 years, the celebration was a powerful reminder that his cultural heritage and Catholic faith are inseparable.

“When our music, languages, clothing, customs and joy become part of our worship, I am reminded that I don’t have to choose between being African and being Catholic,” he said. “Both are important parts of who I am.”

Fagbamiye attends St. Theresa Church, Douglasville, where he serves the parish and broader community, through the Knights of Columbus and as a PACOA representative. Growing up with Nigerian traditions taught him the importance of family and community, he said. He maintains those connections through gatherings and relationships with other Nigerians and Africans in the area.

At the Pan African Mass, Fagbamiye saw those connections expressed through the universal language of Catholic worship.

“We may speak different languages and have different customs, but we share the same faith, the same Eucharist and the same Lord,” he said.

A tapestry of cultures

Twelve communities were represented at the celebration: the St. Josephine Bakhita Catholic Faith Community at St. Theresa Church; African Parishioners of St. Thomas the Apostle, Smyrna; the Gambian Christian Organization at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Atlanta; the Ghanaian Catholic Community at St. Patrick Church, Norcross; the Nigerian Igbo Catholic Community of Atlanta at Corpus Christi Church, Stone Mountain; the African Community of St. John Vianney, Lithia Springs; the Kenyan Catholic Community at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Cartersville; the Cameroon Catholic Community and Catholic Women’s Association of Cameroon at St. Lawrence Church; the African Community of St. Patrick’s, Norcross; African Catholic Families of Corpus Christi in Stone Mountain; and the Francophone Catholic Movement of Atlanta.

The Cameroonian Catholic Community sang the processional hymn, while the Nigerian Igbo Catholic Community led the Gloria. Members of the Catholic Women’s Association of Cameroon carried the Book of the Gospels in a striking procession, singing down the aisle toward the altar.

Prayers of the faithful offered in English, French, Swahili, Igbo, Twi, Yoruba and Lingala, reflected the diversity of the communities.

Bishop John N. Tran greets members of the Pan African community after the Mass celebrating their cultural heritage at St. Lawrence Church on Sept. 26. In his homily, Bishop Tran praised the cultural richness the communities brought to the liturgy while pointing to the faith as their bond. Photo by Julianna Leopold

Throughout Mass, the congregation responded with enthusiasm, joining in song and dance. At moments, worshippers left the pews to move to the music, bringing joyful and communal energy to the celebration of the Eucharist.

Together, the groups represent the breadth of Pan African Catholic life in metro Atlanta. PACOA provides a place for distinct communities to gather while remaining connected to their individual heritages and parishes.

Father Henry Atem is PACOA’s president and the pastor of St. Lawrence.

“The Pan African Catholic Organization of Atlanta plays a vital role in the Archdiocese of Atlanta by giving visibility and voice to a community whose presence, identity and contributions might otherwise remain underrecognized and even unrecognized,” he said.

African Catholics possess a rich cultural and spiritual heritage that deserves to be celebrated and woven into the wider Church, Father Atem said. Their passion and joy in practicing their faith can enrich the spiritual life and diversity of the local Catholic community, he said.

“Our annual Mass and celebration provide a unique opportunity to showcase this heritage, share the gifts of our faith and culture, and celebrate the meaningful contributions African Catholics make to the life of the Church,” Father Atem said.

A place in the universal Church

The late Charles Prejean, then director of the archdiocese’s Office of Black Catholic Ministry, established PACOA in 2010. The organization helps African Catholics connect with parishes, share traditions and receive spiritual and social support as they build lives in Georgia. Many of its communities celebrate Mass in their native languages and organize celebrations throughout the year. Members participate in parish councils, liturgical ministries and other Church activities.

For Ashley Morris, director of the Office of Black Catholic Ministry, the Mass illustrates what the wider Church would lose without the participation of African Catholics.

“The fullness of the body of Christ cannot be experienced without gift and presence of our sisters and brothers from the continent of Africa,” Morris said.

“Personally, the Pan African Mass is always a joy to celebrate with our diverse African communities because of the enthusiasm and fervor with which they honor, celebrate and glorify God,” he said.

Father Atem described the celebration as a spiritual turning point for participants, comparing it to the biblical account of Jesus’ Transfiguration on Mount Tabor. Just as the disciples were strengthened by their encounter with Christ before returning to their mission, he said, the Mass renews African Catholics in faith and identity before they return to their parishes and communities.

The gathering also is an opportunity for African Catholics to share their gifts with the broader Church rather than preserve traditions only within their own communities, Father Atem said.

Fagbamiye hopes that message reaches Catholics of every background, particularly younger generations who may feel caught between their family heritage and the culture in which they were raised.

He wants young African Catholics born or raised in Georgia to understand that they don’t have to choose between being American, African or Catholic.

“They can be fully American, fully Nigerian or African and fully Catholic,” he said. “Their cultural heritage is something to be proud of, and their Catholic faith gives them an even larger family in which to share it.”

He hopes young people learn their history, remain connected to family and recognize their role in the Church’s future.

For Fagbamiye, the Mass’ music, languages, traditional attire and dancing are all meaningful expressions of African Catholic identity, but most important is the Eucharist.

“Regardless of what country welcome from or what language we speak, we gather around the same altar and receive the same Body and Blood of Christ,” he said. “That is a beautiful picture of Catholic unity in diversity.”