Father Joeker

By Fr Joseph Panabang SVD

Classroom Setting 
Guavas in Africa

The guavas were ripe. I had plenty in my garden. While checking the attendance, I told my catechumens, “If your name is called, come first for your catechumen card then go for your guava.” Somewhere at the middle when called went straight to the guava forgetting his card. We all laughed.

Football

Wondering why the class was laughing while the youngest of them was praying, my catechist told me, Father, this is what the child prayed: I pray that those who cut heads in the middle of the night may not come and cut off our heads and play football with them and return them in the morning.” Very revealing indeed isn’t it?

Sara Afia Mansah

Her name is Sara, Afia, Mansah. The examination was rather tough. Of the 96 catechumens I examined before baptism, only 21 passed. As soon as she heard her name among the successful ones. She jumped from the seat, raised her hands and started running back and forth shouting “Yeah! Yeh! Yeh!” The whole class laughed. Seeing, that I relaxed a bit, others joined her. In a moment the class was divided into tow groups; one rejoicing, the other mourning.

Altar Boys: Communication Gap?

I was rushing to say Mass for our Filipino community in Accra, I asked one altar boy at the SVD Guest House, “Do we have an extra Sunday Missal?” “Yes Father, we have.” He went in and showed me some big and small hosts. Do our altar boys need a seminar, or do I need a seminar in the local language?

Examination: Theory Part

My Altar boys were nervous because it was their examination day. The Theory part-consisted in naming all the items used in the Mass. I spread all of the items on the table. Each altar Boy would name all the items without me correcting him. The fingers of one of them was trembling as he pointed to the items. [He was always absent from class.] “This is a communion plate; this is the crucifix; this is a pall...” then he pointed to the vestment with hesitation and suddenly said, “This is a vitamin.” “B or C?” John Baffoe, the Catechist, asked with a straight/poker face.

Official/Alternate

Finding a way not to hurt hose who failed the examination for Altar Boy, I classified them into two groups; Official and alternate. The official are those who passed and the alternate are those who failed. Those who failed are mostly Grade 1. As soon as they saw their names, they exclaimed, “Yeh... we made! We are Altar boys not knowing that they are only substitute and will serve only if those in the Duty Roster are absent.

Batman

One evening my catechist was interpreting my homily when a small bat fell squarely in front of the pulpit. The catechist backed away immediately. I rushed to the scene and picked up the bat. I raised the bat and started: Once upon a time, there was a battle between the animals that fly in the air and animals that walk on the ground. When the animals in the air were winning, that bat sided with them, too w hen peace was restored, the animals in the air accused the bat of siding with the other group. But the bat defended himself saying, “Have you ever seen an animal with wings? I am definitely with you.” Later the other groups accused the bat of siding with the animals. However the bat answered, “Friends, I am with you . have you ever seen a bird with teeth.” I concluded my homily with this. Which side are you really on? God’s only when you seem to be winning, or in the good times and the bad – both?