Mass Kenyan Style

The basic format of Mass is the same wherever you attend, but there are definite differences between the way Mass is celebrated in the United States and Kenya. When going to an African Mass, allow at least an hour and a half. Why? There is much more singing and dancing!

We prefer music at the services when traditional music instruments are used. These include drums, kuwimba (hollow reeds filled with stones and then tied together), sometimes rattles and tambourines. If the church has electricity often there is a keyboard. You have to keep in mind that most people here don’t use printed music. The keyboardist tries to follow along with the singing playing by ear. Most of the time, in my humble opinion, it is more of a distraction and irritation than support for the music.

As Mass starts a procession begins from the back of the church as the entrance song is sung. The procession is led by the liturgical dancers followed by the servers (altar boys) and priest. This is not a fast procession as the dancers are leading with small steps often taking ten small steps forward and one or two backwards.

Often incense is used not only once but several times during the Mass. My girls hated incense on the special days that it was used at home. I wonder how, now that they are adults, they would react. Would they still hold their noses? If incense is being used, the altar is incensed as the final part of the procession.

Once the celebrants are at their places on the altar, the service continues. Almost all of the parts of Mass are sung, not spoke including: Lord, have mercy, Gloria, Profession of Faith, Holy, Holy, Memorial Acclamation, Amen, and Lamb of God. This is every Sunday, not just during the holy seasons of Advent and Easter. As a part of many of these songs, members wave their hands whenever they sing the refrains of Alleluia or Hosanna.

Before the readings, the liturgical dancers lead another procession from the back of the church bringing forward the Bible. Of course, there is a special song sung during this time. The Bible is incensed before the readings begin.

There is the regular offertory taken. Instead of baskets being passed among the congregation, each person who has an offertory gift goes to the front of the church where servers are standing with locked wooden boxes to receive the donation. This is not done in an orderly manner as we would expect. Instead each person goes forward whenever they want. There is no organized traffic pattern. People are coming forward and returning down every aisle, three people abreast! It is very crowded and confusing.

Before the Eucharistic prayer begins, the bread and wine, altar, priest and congregation is incensed.

Often the Sign of Peace is not done, there is no shaking of hands and greeting of your neighbors.

The majority of Kenyans do not receive communion. The reason is that many of them are not married in the church. It is so expensive that many cannot afford to have a church wedding in addition to paying the dowry. Often it takes years for the husband to be able to pay the entire dowry. Then some priests and ministers won’t perform a wedding ceremony until the entire dowry is paid. The traffic pattern for communion is the same as the offertory. People get up whenever they want and join the line going in any direction that they want. Wine is never offered as part of communion, only bread.

There is an additional prayer said after communion, The Soul of Christ.

After the Eucharist a thanksgiving offering is taken. Not as many people contribute to this second offering. This time the priest stands in front of the altar to personally receive the gifts. Gifts can be money, or real items grown and raised on their shambas (farms). We’ve seen bags of maize (corn), charcoal, eggs, bananas, fruits, vegetables, even live animals such as chickens, sheep or goats brought forward during this time. The priest accepts the gifts, hands them to the altar boys and shakes the hand of each person this time. Finally they receive a special blessing.

Once again the liturgical dancers lead the procession out of the church. I must say that a Kenyan Mass is much more joyful that Masses we are used to. With all that sining and dancing, how can you not be happy when it is over?


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