We ask you, urgently: don't scroll past this
Dear readers, Catholic Online was de-platformed by Shopify for our pro-life beliefs. They shut down our Catholic Online, Catholic Online School, Prayer Candles, and Catholic Online Learning Resources essential faith tools serving over 1.4 million students and millions of families worldwide. Our founders, now in their 70's, just gave their entire life savings to protect this mission. But fewer than 2% of readers donate. If everyone gave just $5, the cost of a coffee, we could rebuild stronger and keep Catholic education free for all. Stand with us in faith. Thank you.Help Now >
African Heritage Mass in Philadelphia draws Catholics from 21 countries
FREE Catholic Classes
Hundreds of African Catholics gathered last Sunday for an annual Mass in Philadelphia, blending cultures, languages, and attire from across the African continent.

African Heritage Mass
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
10/10/2019 (5 years ago)
Published in Africa
Keywords: AFRICA, PHILADELPHIA, PA., US
Philadelphia, Pa., (CNA) - Hundreds of African Catholics gathered last Sunday for an annual Mass in Philadelphia, blending cultures, languages, and attire from across the African continent.
The sixth annual African Family Heritage Mass was hosted Oct. 6 by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Mass and a celebratory banquet were held at St. Raymond of Penafort Church in northwest Philadelphia.
Sister Florence Enechukwu, a Missionary Sister of the Holy Rosary, founded the event in 2014. Father Christopher Walsh, the pastor at St. Raymond, was the main celebrant and homilist this year.
Walsh told CNA that the event gathered people representing 21 African countries.
"This is an opportunity for them to get together to worship...Different communities take different parts of the Mass and many different languages are used," he said.
The scripture readings at the Mass were proclaimed in Swahili and English; the prayers of the faithful were read by representatives of Malawi, Tanzania, Eritrea, and Democratic Republic of the Congo, Catholic Philly reported.
Prior to the Mass, a Liberian choir sang "Let Us Come to Jesus My Friend." During Mass, songs were sung by Kenyan, Francophone, and Nigerian Igbo choirs.
While some participants are part of vibrant communities in their hometowns, Walsh said, "there were also people there who drove down from areas further away in Pennsylvania who don't get to connect. They're from Africa, but they don't get a chance to connect with the larger African community."
The priest noted that cultural practices are often tied closely to the dissemination of faith.
"The Church has always had an appreciation for culture, and in many cases, the African culture in which these folks grew up is the culture that passed on the faith to them," he said. "Being able to celebrate in their own liturgical style with their own liturgical music, praying to God in their own language, is important."
The event, which is hosted at a different parish every year, was held at St. Raymond's this year because of the parish's refugee ministry. The parish has sponsored 10 African refugees, hailing from Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Tanzania.
Walsh told CNA that the parish works with several agencies to support the refugees. The parish is able to provide clothes and pay a portion of their rent for a few months, in addition to helping them find work and obtain documentation and diplomas.
Participants at the Mass came from Togo, Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Liberia, Congo, and the Ivory Coast, among other countries. They wore traditional African clothing from their respective countries.
Many attendees wore clothing featuring black and white images of their favorite saint atop their clothing. Emmanuel Okoro, coordinator for the Igbo Catholic Community at St. Cyprian Parish, said the event is joyfully anticipated by the African communities in the area.
"Many of us are wearing a patron saint," Okoro told Catholic Philly. "I chose to wear the outfit with St. John Paul II. I have a special devotion to him. Many of those here are from throughout the Philadelphia Archdiocese and Camden. You will see that many of us are wearing different saints," she told the Catholic Philly.
After Mass, a buffet was offered with a variety of traditional African dishes from different regions.
"It is part of the culture to make sure everyone comes together. Many of these groups worship together as a group," said Samuel Abu, coordinator for the archdiocese's Refugee Resettlement Program.
"Under Archbishop Charles Chaput we have the opportunity to pray together and gather to serve God," he told Catholic Philly. "We have apostolates throughout the archdiocese. The African Catholic community is always increasing because now we have first, second and third generations of families. This Mass made it possible to bring them together."
---
'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'
Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Novena for Pope Francis | FREE PDF Download
-
- Easter / Lent
- Ascension Day
- 7 Morning Prayers
- Mysteries of the Rosary
- Litany of the Bl. Virgin Mary
- Popular Saints
- Popular Prayers
- Female Saints
- Saint Feast Days by Month
- Stations of the Cross
- St. Francis of Assisi
- St. Michael the Archangel
- The Apostles' Creed
- Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony
- Pray the Rosary

St. Athanasius of Alexandria: Defender of the Faith and Pillar of Orthodoxy

Teresian Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, Oldest Person in the World, Dies at 116 After a Life of Faith and Service

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi: Rising Papabile Amid Concerns over Doctrine, Liturgy, and Influence
Daily Catholic
Daily Readings for Saturday, May 03, 2025
St. James the Lesser: Saint of the Day for Saturday, May 03, 2025
Prayer before Starting on a Journey: Prayer of the Day for Saturday, May 03, 2025
Daily Readings for Friday, May 02, 2025
St. Athanasius: Saint of the Day for Friday, May 02, 2025
- The Our Father: Prayer of the Day for Friday, May 02, 2025
Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.