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The great media guru of the sixties, Marshall McLuhan coined the memorable catch phrase, 'The medium is the message'. Around the same time the Second Vatican Council was announcing the reform of the liturgy with the pious hope that 'all the faithful be led to that full, conscious and active participation which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy'. I don't know how much full, conscious, active participation occurs at the average liturgy but I do know that the Liberians could teach us how to celebrate liturgically. I saw a brilliant example of inspirational liturgy at the recent ordination in Liberia of Fr Blamoh Harris, I saw what can happen when the liturgy becomes a real and joyful celebration of the life of the people.
Despite McLuhan's warnings so many people have been persuaded to see Africa through the eyes of our western media. I vividly remember a remark of a friend of mine as I showed some photographs after a trip to Liberia: 'Those children are not starving!' Our media coverage of Africa is so dominated by certain selected images that inevitably our vision becomes clouded. With the impact of Band Aid and Comic Relief there is the danger of seeing Africa as dependent on us, always receiving from us generous Westerners. Yet Africa can teach us so much.
One area in which this false picture can be reversed is with the liturgy. The ordination of our first Liberian Salesian priest by Archbishop Michael Francis took place on Pentecost Day in the cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Monrovia, and it was one of the most joyful and uplifting ceremonies I have ever been privileged to take part in. It contained so many elements of what good liturgy should be. The Ordination Mass combined solemnity and real prayerfulness, with vibrant and inspiring music and colourful dancing. There was the kind of active participation the Vatican Council dreamed of. The highlight for me was the longest offertory procession I have ever seen. Blamoh's mother and other family members led the way with the liturgical gifts. They were followed by scores of people bringing up a whole range of gifts including a variety of fruits and live chickens! Their way of demonstrating typical African hospitality.
For Brother Donald MacDonald who had accompanied me to the ordination this was a very special event. The Salesian teacher was seeing his Salesian pupil being ordained. It was only right that Bro Donald should visit Liberia where he had spent 15 years. The new priest, Fr. Blamoh, was a former pupil of Donald - or 'Brother D', as he is affectionately referred to by his many Liberian friends, and it was a very moving moment for Donald to be able to see his former pupil become a Salesian priest.
A couple of days after the ordination Bro Donald, Fr Chris Heaps and myself attended a special concert presented by the staff and pupils of Don Bosco Homes, in honour of the new priest. Part of the programme involved the acting out of the life of Don Bosco. Afterwards Blamoh spoke very movingly of how his vocation had grown out of seeing that same story of Don Bosco acted out before him when he was a boy. Let us pray that many other Liberian youngsters will be inspired by Don Bosco's invitation to bring the joy of God's love to the young, especially those in most need." |
