In remembrance of me
I attended a very special and wonderful celebration of the Lord’s Supper this past Holy Week. Sisters Eileen, Jean and I went to St. Margaret Mary Parish in South Bronx, New York. Some of our Associates in the Eastern Region belong to this parish and we wanted to come and celebrate the Eucharist with them. This is the former church of S. Eileen
We arrived at the church with many parishioners warmly greeting us and smiling to us, some of them speaking Spanish. We received many hugs! I was deeply touched by their gracious welcome and enthusiasm for welcoming all people to their place of worship.
Before going to the Mass, I was expecting your average Holy Thursday celebration of the Eucharist, but I felt a certain energy in the air, almost as if we going to celebrate Palm Sunday. With the sun just beginning to disappear into the horizon, we could hear the choir warming up, friends chatting before Mass outside of the sanctuary, and a wonderful energy about the whole church.
Mass began and our hymns were bilingual and trilingual, the congregation sang and spoke in English, Spanish and in an African language-Akan. Each of the three languages was spoken and interwoven throughout the entire Mass.
Enthusiastic drummers were drumming, keyboard was playing and guitar was sounding! A joyful noise was made to the Lord! To a packed church the twenty-member choir was jubilant in praise-their zeal was contagious.
It was wonderful to see many people from their various backgrounds and cultures come together and praise their God!
Scripture was proclaimed in all three languages. To me this was so beautiful-to see how God’s word is read and heard in each one’s native tongue. Following the homily, the presider washed the feet of twelve persons. The choir sang, “danos un corazón, grande para amar. Lord give us hearts that are great for loving.” We follow the example Jesus gave to us to wash the feet of one another.
When we all prayed the Our Father, Padre Nuestro, we joined and raised our hands and all simultaneously said the prayer in our native tongue and language. How beautiful was this! How we could feel the Spirit’s presence with us!
When it was time for the Eucharistic procession, the Akan-speaking choir lifted their voice once again in song inviting us to adore Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. The fragrance of incense filled the entire church.
It was a Holy Thursday Liturgy I will never forget:
the jubilant and passionate members of the congregation
the music
the singing and chanting
the diversity of language and culture
the incense
but most importantly I will remember the-
Love and praise given to our
Generous and Self-giving God!
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