Abstract
Spurred by a desire to incorporate, understand, and act upon the needs of
its African faithful, the parish community of Saint Mary will embark on a
six month program titled “Nno” (a Nigerian Ibo word for welcome). Many
of members of the Saint Mary’s Nigerian community are from southern
Nigeria and speak Ibo (alternate spelling Igdo). It is the experience of this
parish that African Catholics possess a deep sense of spirituality. All
liturgies and communal functions will be designed to draw on this intuitive power. Another consideration will be the economic resources needed to implement any programs. Two economic dynamics are present in most
African immigrant groups. First, they come from a missionary environment
under which all the costs are borne by the missionaries. Second, many are
supporting both their families here in the United States as well as family
members in their native country. The parish community of Saint Mary,
therefore, will provide all program costs.
