Commemorating Easter as Missionaries in Africa

How do missionaries spend their Easter?  This has been a question that I get to be asked most of the times.  Well, 9 Easters ago, the Catholic missionaries (Priests, Nuns, Seminarians and Lay missionaries) in East Africa decided to congregate themselves every Easter and really draw strength from the various experiences of the Filipino missionaries and give thanks to the Lord for all the blessings that He bestowed upon His workers in the vineyard. To top it all, it is also a chance to take root and celebrate the Holy Eucharist in Filipino and the Filipino way.

Last Sunday, April 18, I got the privilege to once again join this noble group of missionaries who has been here in Kenya for most of their lives.  It was also a celebratory assembly to welcome those who are new in the mission and those who are celebrating their birthdays and anniversaries. The mixture of the group makes it exciting as some has dedicated their entire being serving the Kenyan Church and some are the new ones who draw inspiration from the various pastoral experiences of our senior missionaries.

The affair started with a thanksgiving mass celebrated by the newly ordained Rev. Fr. TQ Mula from Tagum City and who belongs to the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus.  As he celebrated his first mass as a priest in Kenya with the community, he reiterated how we are inspired to partake in the Eucharist as the source of inspiration as missionaries.  The Eucharist being the source of all our energy and ultimate reason to gather so that as missionaries we continually be thankful to our risen Christ for He sustains us in our times of challenges, troubles and personal struggles.

After the mass, everyone was busy trying to compare the different culinary expertise that each brought from mission or from their own Filipino roots.  Everyone had their own fill and enjoyed chit chatting with one another and update each one with the lives that they have lived on mission.  Some were even very much into the news of the moment -- Philippine Elections. As the afternoon progressed, dance music liven the energy of the missionaries and danced to the way they know either from their ancient generation or the funky music of the young and even tried some local Kenyan songs and dances.

The missionaries enjoyed the gathering. They had time to relax, recharged and be inspired for another year on the field doing the great work of the Lord.  Father TQ summed up the gathering with saying, “We witness as missionaries to the Kenyan Church as Filipinos, but more importantly sharing our faith in Christ to all peoples. Christ is truly risen so we give thanks to God because from that blessing of serving Him, now, we are able to share the faith.”