CULTURAL DAY, REP YOUR JERSEY ET ALL SAGA
In order to always present a prohibitive measure to everything we think is “unliturgical,” why don’t we take time to really research into everything we see rather than to view it from our own perspective. How do you measure someone’s spirituality( spiritual inclination towards what we celebrate) or activeness at Mass?
The Mass must be solemn, which I know, believe, and promote, but what does someone putting on his cultural dress like Kente in a said day disrupt what we celebrate? At any normal given time, without an organised program, can’t people demonstrate their sense of belonging as regards neatly dressed customised dressing to Church? Can we drive away someone who comes to church with Kente or smock(if that is the right spelling). I sincerely respect and advocate that ministers like lectors, servers, and even priests put on the required liturgical vestments, but what has the recent argument got to do with what we celebrate? At first, the Church was not into social media, now we can’t say no to it.
The Church has developed from many teachings and has embraced new teaching for our edification. Where did the “extra ecclesia nulla salus” go? Why did we apologise to the world for what we did some years ago? Are we still justified with the assassination of Galileo? The Church must be spiritual, but spirituality in this sense can’t thrive without social connection and alignment. You proposed such programs can be done one outside Mass? Have you really studied the trend now? People are always out to work. They come home very tired. There is even this new phenomenon, “Digital Parenting.” How many people really get time for teachings and the rest apart from Sundays? If we decide to neglect the social aspect of the Church and rely solely on the spiritual aspect, we may lose the “social people” and social connections.
To the best of my knowledge, no one comes to church to dance while we are kneeling or to sing while we are quiet. If the issue is about attentiveness, it can always be asked for, irrespective of what. If the Church continues to rely on past glories and decide to always be in the confines of our pews, i am afraid. If we really mean business, we shouldn’t forget that religion and, for that matter, “soul winning” is becoming a “competition.” We can just sit on the altar and say they can leave, fine, but they leave wf talents, they leave with ideas. They leave with money, which we need paaaaa. We can not follow every trend, but we can borrow good ideas and catholicise it for our own good. Where is the research backing our prohibition?
Fr. Godfred Ofori
Konongo-Mampong Diocese
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