The first Holy Mass in the shrine was ornamented with inculturation elements - Gospel procession with seven ladies from Catholic Women League in the parish dancing liturgical dance and preceding the lad y dressed as Our Lady carrying on her head a clay pot (used here for drinking water) wrapped in white linen and inside it there was a Holy Scripture. The ladies were carrying on their heads small clay pots with redhot charcoal and incence inside, making it to look like fire tongues dancing on their heads protected by head wrap. On each pot there was a name of one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The meaning of the lady dressed as Our Lady with that big clay pot for drinking water - Our Lady brought us Jesus, who is Living Water. His Word is Living Water. The pot means the womb of Our Lady, the white linen her Virginity, and the Holy Scripture - Jesus who is a Living Word of God.
People were cheering wildly excited by this unusual display of well thought inculturation element in the Mass - singing along and clapping happily their hands. Upon the arrival of ladies to the steps of the sanctuary, I bowed in respect and took the Bible from inside the clay pot which the lady dressed as Our Lady took of her head and hold in her hands in front of me. I kissed the Bible and blessed the congregation. People made the sign of the cross.
The second inculturation element in that first 7am morning Mass was the prayer of the faithful. Altar servers brought in front of the altar a big thurible with a charcoal stove inside. Chosen Christian were lined at the steps of the sanctuary and came in twos. One was reading prepared beforehand intention of the prayer and the second, upon the first one finishing reading, put a tablespoon of incense on charcoal and pleasant fragrance of incense and smoke rose to the sky, as a sign of our prayers accepted by God. There were six different intentions, so altogether there were six couples of Christians from various parochial groups and movements. Saint Gemma Galgani Choir sang response and all followed...
During all Masses today we had a special collection for Lay Apostolate upkeep in the parish and the diocese. This time I stood in the middle with a basket and people were coming to donate for this cause. This idea of me being there instead of the secretary of the lay parish council was not a bad one as we got twice the usual amount people tend to donate for various causes throughout the liturgical year.
The second Holy Mass is mainly for youth and children, but without incence and inculturation elements we had in the first Mass.
Immediately after the second Holy Mass we set off to Nyamikoma - with two sisters, lay leaders and altar servers. We arrived there at 5.15am, first thing was to make sure that all catechumens were there, gave them special forms with which they would come to me during Baptism Liturgy, thus making sure all heads are accounted for. Then I sat for confessions. Godparents and 'normal' penitents came in good number. It took me 1 hour 15 minutes to hear all confessions. We started Mass at 12.30pm. The small chapel was packed incredibly with twice as many people outside. The Holy Mass lasted for four hours. I thought in one moments during baptismal liturgy that I would faint of dehydration and heat. People at windows and in doors, no air circulation, temperature inside around 40 Centigrades and me fully clad in liturgical vestments...
But eventually all went very well, I introduced to the Holy Mother Church some 130 new members. The joy was incredible. People singing, dancing, ululating, shouting, smiling, excited to the brink of explosion!
Here are some pictures and one video clip from the Holy Mass in Nyamikoma today. I came back home at 5.15pm, hungry, thirsty, dead tired after a long day, but very happy and satisfied! The Holy Spirit came and created us anew!
Penitents queuing for confessions before the Holy Mass in Nyamikoma outstation
The faithful waiting for the beginning of the Mass, no place for them inside the chapel
Anna from Mwibagi outstation was pumped up already before even Mass started!
My old 'outstation use only' altar missal
The first Reading
Baptisms underway...
Godparents busy at the paschal candle (do not get fooled by the year on the stand of the candle - it was the stand I made and used in 1999 during a special pilgrimage of paschal candle in the parish as part of preparations for Great Jubilee 2000; I still use it for liturgical purposes like today)
Kids fascinated by the lighting of baptism candles by godparents!
New Christians proudly presenting their baptismal candles
Gifts of altar offered during offertory procession in the Holy Mass - whatever people can share from their crops and orchards
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