Day 4: Worshiping Jesus in Africa

I have often heard that before we can love we have to be loved. Before we can save others we have to save ourselves. It didn’t take long for Jesus to begin showing his love for me in Africa and showing me how to love him. After waking up and asking God to walk with me throughout the day I started my day in the chapel with Peyton, a priest, 3 sisters (representing Germany, Austria and Uganda), 8 seminarians and 2 young ladies training for the consecrated life. We sat in silence in front of Jesus waiting to worship him in this small Christian community. After praying morning prayer Mass began with beautiful worship music to the beat of African drums. The seminarians practice the songs the evening prior, preparing for this moment of worship. Throughout the mass all were engaged vocally in prayer, pious and reverent. How can Catholics in America capture this thirst to worship our God in this way? Not lukewarm but on fire! In America we either didn’t have it or we lost it. My experience after waking up for my first morning in Africa wasn’t an anomaly. I had the same experiences time and time again six years ago. And this wasn’t even the pinnacle of the day. Standing on the grounds of where a martyr was pierced, eaten by dogs and died willingly for teaching the Catholic faith is a very humbling experience. This provided the grounds we needed to have a good discussion with Fr Jude about how to help the Ugandan children encounter Jesus in us through missionary work.