Love for The Earth,
Love for Humanity
The bright light of the rising sun represents the luminosity, the beauty inherent in each human being and our capacity to transform evil into good and to establish authentic human relationships. The closeness of the celebration of Christmas envisions the coming of the Light and Peace for the world, the One that fulfils the greatest aspirations of any person and leads us all to God.
CHRISTMAS
IN IPOLOSAT
BY FR GIUSEPPE CARAMAZZA | COMBONI MISSIONARY
I WAS Parish Priest in Ongata Rongai, in the south of Kenya. Christmas was approaching and Fr Vincent, my curate and I, started wondering about how to celebrate Mass in the 26 chapels of the parish. We decided to schedule at least one in the main centres at or around the feast.
lpolosat was one of them. They asked me to go, since they had not had Mass in the past two months. I agreed for the 22nd of December. On that day, I drove along the tarmac road until I reached the junction for Ipolosat. The road was impassable, a sea of mud, as I expected. I parked the pick-up and started walking.
The sun was unforgiving. The black cotton-growing soil stuck to my boots, slowing me down. I started suffering from the sun, and dreaming to reach the outstation and rest in the shadow of the small church. When I went over the top of the hill of Ipolosat, I was surprised to see a large gathering. I made for the chapel and met with the elders, who were waiting for me. “Father Joseph”, said one, “when we heard that you were coming to celebrate Christmas we sent word around. The Christians of other denominations asked to join us in prayer. We hope you do not mind.” Of course, I did not mind, but I wondered where we could accommodate such a crowd. The answer was just under my eyes, everything was prepared to celebrate Mass in the open; in the savannah, with not a tree in sight, I could only hope for Mass to be short.
It was not. People had prepared dances, the choir seemed to have chosen the longest hymns ever written, and I could certainly not cut corners in the celebration. Christmas is at the heart of the faithful and they had not celebrated the Eucharist for so many Sundays. After Mass there was a communal lunch, and I was able to leave Ipolosat only towards 16:00, just in time to reach the car before dark. I had developed a strong headache, and I had to go to the doctor the following day because my scalp had turned into a large painful blister.
I still remember that Christmas. We celebrated Jesus’ birth a few days in advance, some purist might not be happy, but people in Ipolosat were, and proud also that the Eucharist had brought so many believers around the altar, showing that we should strive for what unites us, more than what divides us. The feast after Mass was simple, yet joyful: the sharing of food and drink, the laughter, the pristine joy of staying together, what could one ask for more.
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