NAACUS CONNECTION Connecting the African Catholic family to Christ July 2018 Vol 1 Issue 02

ANNOUNCEMENTS: IN THE NEWS: • At the June Board Members meeting, Membership Regis- • MME PRES REPRESENTS NAACUS as she reports: tration form was sented and approved. This form de- The Ugandan Martyrs 10th annual celebration and fellowship was held tails information required every African Catholic on June 2 at St. Eugene parish, Mil- who wants to be a member of NAACUS. Why the need for waukee, WI. Over 200 people at- all this mation? It is needed to connect all African tended the celebration. The presider Catholics so that, in case of a need, we can of the Mass was Fr. Thomas direct the member to the closest sister, brother or Otanga, OCD whose power- ful homily focused on the Ugandan region that can be of assistance. HELP to connect all Martyrs. Concelebrant of the Mass African Catholics. NEED EACH was Fr. John Vianney Muwesi, SDS • Rev. Fr Hilary Ike joined the NAACUS Board. Rev. Fr. Ike and Deacon John Fritsch and the choir was just vibrant. The Mass represent Region 6 which covers Ohio and Michigan. included ancestral libation and various African cultural heritage. After the Mass, there was will be working with Ms. Teresa Dade covering the fellowship that included vari- region. ous African foods. I was Rev Fr. Leonard Gicheru and Rev. Fr. Francis Bakyor also introduced to speak about joined the Board as Coordinators for Region 9. They will be working with Mother Ngozi Azoba, Mr. Romeo Kumedjro Thomas Miano Ngundo. Region 9 co- vers Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and souri. Condolences go to Mr. David Okonkwo, Coordinator for NAACUS. After the Region 10 for the loss of his beloved Mrs. Matilda presentation, I met with Afoma Okonkwo (nee Anajemba). each community in attend- • Deacon Francis also lost ance talked to them personally, gave them NAACUS brochure and his aunt by marriage, Mrs. Mary Kiir my business cards. I was impressed to see how different African Catholic communities including African American came together to • Dr Zama Kimbi Ndefru, a Cameroonian support this celebration. I was also impressed to see how sister African, passed on June 13. He studied Po- Reine and bro Fessahaye are connected to their community and litical Science at Northern Kentucky U and to their diocese. This is the type of leadership that NAACUS is taught Special Needs children at Marshall looking for. Now, we need High School, Middleton OH. He left behind Wisconsin team to collab- orate with the other coor- 4 children and 2 grandchildren. He was 66. dinators in their regions He was an active member of Region 6 as to have regional activi- ties and I know they can WHAT IS HAPENNING: - Spread the news do it...right sister Reine. Thank you team Wisconsin for your hospitality as I felt • Sunday, July 29, 2018: Most Rev Cornelius Fontem Esua will very welcome. celebrate the Annual African Mass at St Agnes Church in Springfield, IL. • ZIMBABWEANS HOLD ANNUAL CONFERENCE by Julia Wenjere • Aug 9—Aug 11, 2018: Kenya Catholic Community embarks on a 3-day conference in Washington, DC that will end with a Swalili mass to be celebrated by Rt Rev Maurice Ma- kumba, of Diocese of Nakuru, Kenya. For more infor- mation, go to wwwfacebook.com/ KenyaCatholicCommunityInAmerica • June 28-30, 2018: The Congolese Community of the United States will hold a 3-day conference. The conference will include a discussion on “Why a period of transition without Kabila for credible and Transparent Elections in DRC”. It will My family and I went to Texas to the Montserrat Jesuit Retreat in be followed by a march to the US Congress and a mass cele- Dallas on the 25th of May where they were hosting the annual brated by Cardinal Monsengwo. Catholic Conference for Zimbabweans. (cont’d page 2) NAACUS CONNECTION Connecting the African Catholic family to Christ July 2018 Vol 1 Issue 02 His excellency Archbish- IN THE NEWS: (Cont’d from page 1) op Michael August It was three days filled with learning and Blume Apostolic Nuncio fellowship. Our theme was “Missio Ad Gen- to Uganda and His Ex- tes“ which is derived from the Second Vati- cellency can Council’s decree, and in our discus- sions we talked about the Mass, the signifi- Christopher Pierre Apos- cance of the Mass, it’s mission and mean- tolic Nuncio to the United ing. It is our role as Christians to share the States and over 45 priests from Uganda!!! Great food love and word of God. It was an enlighten- and dance!! ing experience. We had a meeting and Sis- ter Maria and I were introduced as the cur- rent members of the NAACUS in our com- • The Igbo Community Celebrates in Grand - mittee and we educated our fellow Zimba- Reports Sr Joanna Okereke: bweans on what the NAACUS is, what they The Igbo Catholic com- stand for and what we are munity USA celebrated trying to achieve for our- the Sixteenth Annual selves and our kids as Afri- ICCUSA Conference cans. We had a blessed time on our stay there and on the from June 22-24, 2018 last day I was officially ac- in Maryland. Most cepted in the Holy Order of Reverend William E. Mary the mother of God Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore, was the celebrant and homilist for the Mass. • ACA of the DMV celebrates the Saints of Africa— This event gathered about 1000 participants including Reports Kwame Frimpong priests, religious, and the lay faithful. On June 2, 2018, African Catholics in

the DC area gathered at St Camillus The Igbo Catholic Community USA ministries have in Silver Spring MD to Chapters in the various Dioceses and Archdioceses celebrate the Saints of Africa. Its overall goal is to encourage unity among the throughout the Unit- various African Catholic Communities in the Washington Metro ed States. The ob- towards a greater impact of jective of such is to the rich African cultural wor- educate one another ship in the Church. For the about the diverse first time, this event was con gifts which they -celebrated by 3 – bring to the Catholic Most Revs Dorsonville- Church in the United Rodriguez, Auxiliary Bishop States. The Igbo Catholics are visible, committed, active for the Archdiocese of Washington, who delivered the homily, and ready to offer their talents in visible ways within the Dachelem, Bishop of Buachi Diocese, different parishes and communities. Nigeria and Osei Bonsu, Bishop of Konongo-Mampong Diocese, Ghana. The Eucharistic and the cultural celebration were an op- The theme for the program was portunity to share God’s love and express deep grati- “Becoming Missionary Disciples”. The tude to God for is gifts. The various Igbo choirs with youth choir performed excellently and their beautiful and melodious voice inspired many to the whole congregation erupted to their melodies. The youth praise God. The music directors composed the music and young adults were prevalent in the liturgy and the enter- that was used during the celebration. tainment. The leaders are committed to im- • Boston parties on Martyrs Day parting the Igbo culture and lan- guage to their children born in Ugandan Martyrs diaspora. They also hope to pre- day celebration in serve the culture for them- Boston is the selves. The Igbo Catholics pride best party of the themselves of having many priests and religious. The year so far!!! Two liturgical and cultural celebration was a source of moti- Papal Nuncios!!!! vation and inspiration to all who participated.