Annual African Bazaar offers thanks and giving
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“When you attend an African Mass you have to pray for God’s grace for patience.”
Those words from Father Moses Ikuelogbon served more as a promise than a warning. The Nov. 17 Mass at Holy Cross Parish on Buffalo’s West Side extended beyond the standard hour by incorporating a beautiful display of traditional African dances and five choirs.
Father Moses Ikuelogbon reads an opening prayer at the start of the African Thanksgiving Mass on Nov. 17 at Holy Cross Parish in Buffalo. With him are Deacon Jorge Silva, Deacon Miguel Santos and Deacon Donald Weigel. (Photo by Patrick J. Buechi) 
Father Moses Ikuelogbon sings a few bars of “Heal the World” as he delivers his homily at the annual African Thanksgiving Mass at Holy Cross Parish on Nov. 17. (Photo by Patrick J. Buechi) 
Donations from Holy Cross parishioners are brought to the altar of the Buffalo church during the African Thanksgiving Mass. They were later raffled off during the Thanksgiving Bazaar held after Mass. (Photo by Patrick J. Buechi) 
Dancers perform during the African Thanksgiving Mass at Holy Cross Parish. (Photo by Patrick J. Buechi) 
Sister Roberta Fulton, SSMN, (back) director of the Office of Cultural Diversity, introduces members of the diocesan African Commission – Joseph Musumbu, Gertrude Jones and Benoit Kabayiza. The African Commission sponsored the annual African Thanksgiving Mass at Holy Cross Parish. (Photo by Patrick J. Buechi) 
Dancers displayed their African culture at the annual African Bazaar held Nov. 17. (Photo by Patrick J. Buechi)
The parish, originally home to Italians, and then the Hispanic community, now has a large African congregation.
Father Ikuelogbon, parochial vicar for Family #16, spoke of the African philosophy of Ubuntu, which states: “I am because we are, and because we are, I am.”
“It speaks to commonality. It speaks about community. And this body, community of God’s people, we are gathered here today to celebrate not just our diversity. We will celebrate the fact of God in our midst and our personal Lord, Jesus Christ,” he said. “You understand the African proverb that says, ‘If you want to go fast, you can go alone. But, if you want to go far, you go together.”
That day’s readings, which were delivered in three different languages, spoke of the inevitable end of humanity, suggesting we use our time here wisely.
“Remember when you read the Book of Ecclesiastes, it says there is a time for everything. There is time to be born and there is time to die. For those who grew up in the ’80s and early ’90s, you had a lot of televangelists who tell you that the world is coming to an end at some point. Some folks sold their property because they’re waiting for the Lord. I’m not a prophet of doom. That is not what I have come to tell you today. But it is a message of hope,” Father Ikuelogbon said.
Romans chapter 5 states, “Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts.”
“As a preacher, I am a seller of hope. I sell hope. And I bring hope to each and every one of us. Whatever seas you might be going through, with Lord Jesus, we can sail through,” Father Ikuelogbon said.
Sister Roberta Fulton, SSMN, director of the office of Cultural Diversity, addressed the congregation on the theme, “Embracing African Cultural Unity.”
“The theme says everything that this day is about – unity and diversity. We have many cultures, many different things that we do together, but we are united with one faith, one baptism. And we are here hopeful that this is, as Father said in his homily, look at the tapestry of love here. Isn’t this what the kingdom is about? This is a taste of heaven today.”
The Mass was followed by the annual African Thanksgiving Bazaar held in the former Holy Cross School with traditional African food and a raffle. Nine African countries are represented in the parish.
“The bazaar is about putting all Africans in the Diocese of Buffalo together. It’s a thanksgiving Mass,” explained Joseph Musumbu, a member of the diocesan African Commission. “We are happy because it is bringing us together.”
Musumbu did note that the parish is slated to close its doors when it merges with SS. Columba & Brigid. “We can close this building, but we will not close our hearts. Our hearts belong to God.”
