Community can act as a driveway to God's eternal glory.
Every now and then, through Godly acts, we take a sip of the thirst quenching waters of eternity (John 4:14). Peace is like a river. It flows from you to me and from me to you. Spirituality is the riverbed through which the river of peace ceaselessly flows. The currents are the dynamic force giving the river its fervent flow into a distant future. A nation, any nation, dedicated to the Almighty God receives lasting bounty and people live fulfilled lives because they backed their trust in a faithful God. When two or more God-fearing nations share cultures they receive God’s glory so many folds which in turn manifests as cosmopolitan and egalitarian aspirations.
And so it is when the Africa diaspora communities in America conduct worship, social and cultural events which contribute to the civic kaleidoscope of America. Between May to June 2026 in the DC, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area several get-together events were conducted by Africa diaspora communities.
The Islamic community in Springfield concluded a well-attended Eid Aduha event. The Cameroonian community led and concluded a planning meeting in which strategies were laid to facilitate a more visible engagement in community events. The Ghanaian community led the Saints of Africa event with memorable animation and worship billed as one of the best. These and many others are some of the many testaments of the critical voices proclaiming the greatness of God (Matthew 10:27).
The Africa
diaspora communities use social and cultural activities to grow a Christ-like
lifestyle. It is a lifestyle grounded in cognizance of the public nature of
charity, participation in a life through actions that make God's kingdom experienced
on earth.
The time prior the Uganda Martyrs' Day celebration may have gone like this. Word of mouth, a reminder message, planning committee activities, a father making sure the family is ready for the day's event. Somewhere a loving mother is showing her child how to tie that shoelace. A younger sibling is led by an older one through a pew to where they are to sit during Mass. Parents continue supporting a child who is going through the processes preparing her or him to be a Catechumen. The Pastor's message alert lights up with a text about a delivery of janitorial products to be made two days before the event. The choir goes through Mendel's Alleluia after which they tune the membraphonic instruments to accompany the music. 8 adolescents who volunteered to serve as Sacristans as well as serve during the Mass are taken through the nine yards of such a calling. Rehearsals for the Gloria which will be said in Latin are taking place. The choir has to find time to go through all the Church music from all parts of Africa chosen to be sung during the service. A catering team makes sure Jane or Michael who expressed fear of allergenic exposure during a prior survey are catered for. The family cars to transport members are well maintained. The clothes to wear are in place. People are drawn in silent contemplation about how to give glory to God every minute through life's activities. Over there at the sanctuary the priests who conduct the Holy Mass prayers have their palms clasped as a sign of piety. Two young adults in their mid-twenties called in two days back at their places of work and asked for a day-off so that they could attend the event. Everyone in this space is taking up roles which become the critical events culminating into showing up for Holy Mass and all post-service events.
These experiences are a continuation of praise, worship and acknowledging God in our midst. These experiences are the actions behind our witness of God's glory shared with each other. The good actions are a yearning for God. Our small steps as everyday saints bring us fulfilled joy at a personal and community levels. This joy comes with responsibility and accountability without doubt. To be an everyday saint also means we are called to carry an every minute responsibility and second-by-second obligation. They manifest as devotion, charity, dedication, duty, jubilation and living fulfilled lives. The heart's intentions manifest publicly in the form of social values, compassion, connectedness and missionaries for Christ.
There is vibrancy, a renewal and
brimming spirituality. The responsibility of being a follower of Christ and a
propensity to adopt actions that reflect Jesus in all of us are actions which
are our own journeys into and with Christ.
And so it was that on the 20th
of June the DMV Uganda diaspora community represented by well-wishers,
Catholics, Uganda Martyrs’ Society and the Holy Martyrs of Uganda Community
members participated in the celebration of the Uganda Martyrs’ Day 2026 which
began with a Holy Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Landover Hills MD. The
theme was “Christ our peace, breaking the walls, healing the nation.” The main celebrant
was the Most Rev. Roy E. Campbell Jr. Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of
Washington.
During the prelude right
before introductory rites, Saint Mary’s Church’s interior lights high up in the
ceiling were like a fountain pouring joy on all congregants. Lights beaming with
bespoke brilliance affirm the on-going reverence in this worship space. The ushers identifiable by murram-brown
sashes direct the congregants toward the sitting area. Time is ticking away toward
4:00 pm. Two cultures who tell time differently have so far reached the last
minutes simultaneously. African time and American time have agreed with each
other! A few minutes before 4:00pm, a triumphal entry procession led by the
Most Rev. Roy E. Campbell Jr., Priests, servers and those chosen to represent
the Martyrs with sashes having the Martyrs' names marched in dignified step to
the music by the choir. An atmosphere of reverent solemnity is amplified by
crimson vestments of the priests, the glittering gold and silver articles
around the interior. The clergy and
congregants adopt a humble posture as the main celebrant greeted the
congregation and led the service. This filled our hearts with exuberance and a sense
of God’s presence.
During the Homily, the main celebrant emphasized the
benefits of having the Martyrs whose examples can be used as lessons to steadily
keep on the path to God’s glory. The Bishop showed us examples of how the Martyrs
remained faithful to God despite all the pressures to give up. He concluded by
exhorting all of us to “grow in faith,” and “not to be afraid.” This was the
Gospel’s message as well. In ending his Homily, the Bishop instructed all of us
to emulate Christ who is the way, the truth and life (John 14:6). Jesus is the clear
path to God, he concluded. The imagery is like that riverbed we were introduced
to earlier. Jesus leads us to eternity
if we make him our companion. He is the bread of life (John 6:35) and love
turning into the currents and renewing in us the vitality to march forward
together into heaven's eternity. After the blessing and dismissal, we had photo
opportunities with the celebrants, sacristans, the ones who represented the
martyrs and other members of the congregation.
A reception followed which was fused with Afro-music, dance, drama, poetry and music recitals, children-themed activities and recognizing those who continue to make such events solidly part of the routine in the DMV. I walked through the tables during the reception. Guests were engaged in conversation on many topics and I noticed almost all people had put away their phones. Physical meetings like these where God is part of our actions promote a culture of getting along. Connection and affection thrive in a space like this. Buddies and pals were catching up on a number of things. Acquaintances were renewed. I met a Ugandan from Sweden who visits his relatives here in the DMV around Summer time. He remarked that they have similar activities in Sweden too. This space is like a whetstone upon which we revitalize our individual and social manners like turn-taking, listening, recognizing others and living in the present moment. There is magic in re-making our social spaces into catalysts for living in the present where God is a key participant too. It is a faith-filled space where self-care moves side by side with community sensibilities. Children continue running around later to be called by their parents on the way back home. The MC speaks over the conversations guiding the guests through the rest of the activities of the day.
I said my farewells and left to return to D.C.
The Martyrs are remarkable and walked the talk: Fear
not!
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| It was the moment for children to shine through their songs |
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| Reception time |
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| Recitals by adolescent and younger adults |
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| Liturgy of the Eucharist |
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| The "Martyrs" attended the Holy Mass |
