SALT LAKE CITY – Every fourth Sunday of the month the African Catholic community gathers to celebrate a Mass with their cultural traditions at Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Salt Lake City.
This Advent they expect to celebrate the season like they used to in Africa, said Musa Kokokodi, a St. Patrick parishioner.
Since arriving in Utah 10 years ago, Kokokodi has seen the local African community grow and change, but he also has seen how, little by little, the members keep Catholicism alive. "When you are a refugee that came to this country without anything except your kids, the Church helps you," he said.
In this time of reflection, Kokokodi said that in his family’s home they do the same rituals that all other Catholics do for Advent. "We do the same things in every parish – we light the candles, we pray, we commit, the only difference is the language," he said, referring to the fact that the African community sometimes speaks in Arabic or Swahili as well as English.
"When we go to Mass, this is in English, but sometimes we use African music in Swahili," he explained. Also, sometimes the readings are proclaimed in Arabic or Swahili as well.
Another difference is the climate. In Africa, Advent and Christmas fall in the summer, so this time of year it’s is not snowy dark winter nights but rather sunshine and blooming flowers. The schools celebrate summer holidays and camping is common. In large centers for Advent, there is special screening and floor shows are arranged. Carols by candlelight are common events, too and people use pine branches for home décor.
As in other cultures, the use of the Advent wreath is a traditional practice that has found its place in the church as well as in the home in Catholic African culture. The blessing of an Advent wreath takes place on the First Sunday of Advent or on the evening before the First Sunday of Advent. The blessing may be celebrated during Mass, a celebration of the word of God, or evening prayer.
Celebrating Advent for the African community is important for all the things that the church has done for them; through Catholic Community Services many refugee families have been helped and more are being helped this season, which brings them together not just as refugees but as a community, Kokokodi said.
"The Catholic Africans here live very different than over there; there [in Africa] you are closer to people that live far away," said Kokokodi, referring to the fact that in Africa Catholics come from far distances to gather for Mass, while here in Utah some go to one church and others to another, except that fourth Sunday of the month, when they meet at St. Patrick Catholic Church.
"We can grow and stay together as Catholics in this city," Kokokodi said.
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