Father Joeker
By Fr Joseph Panabang SVD
Both Write or Wrong
At the Northern Region of Ghana is a town called Tamale. Two Filipinos from Accra came up for a visit to Kintampo and were telling us how they saw a sign – board, “To Tamale”. How is it possible Father, tama nga at male pa?” correct yet wrong), they inquired. I replied, “maybe it is like a poet saying, ‘honey, your are near yet too far”.
A Word from the Wise
I was sharing my insights and ideas about life with Sr. Alice Amarga, RVM with great enthusiasm as if I knew what Life really was about when suddenly she cut in, “I finished high school in 1952. I was in two during the war...” Sheepishly, I changed the topic for I was not yet born then.
A Lesson on Defeat
Along the deep forested area on my way to the villages, one can see quite a number of wild animals especially between twelve and three o’clock in the afternoon when the sun is burning hot. Once I skidded to a halt, pulled out my catapult and aimed, and shot a the head and the bird feel down mightily. But it took me time to unstrap myself from the seatbelt and I had to get more stones just in case. Then standing over the fallen King of the air, I said, “hello, my friend, how are you?” Thereupon, it moved, reared its head and up it flew away before I could grab it. after relating everything to my Catechist at the next village, he gave me a consoling reply, “Oh Father, the hawk does not belong to you.” And so it is we missionaries learn from the people about the sacredness of the animal Kingdom and the need to protect them but its hard to submit when you’re a good shot with a catapult.
A Matter of Grammar
It was night time in Sunyani town when confident of my Twi (local language) I asked the man, “mepa kyew, wonim Cathedral anaa?” Excuse me, Do you know the Cathedral?” but the man replied in annoyance, “menye Cathedral” “My name is not Cathedral” So much for my Twi!
Filipino-African Liturgy
After a detailed explanation of all the symbols use in the wedding rite like the ring, the Arrae, the literal tying of the couple’s hands, I had a problem to retriever the money which unfortunately was understood by the people as a gift to the new couples. The Catechist being a new recruit seemed unable to explain it well. I was forced to make an impromptu interjection: we hand back the money to the church.” “I forgot to explain that,” said the Catechist in apology after the Mass.
Filipino Delicacy
In Busuama, one of my promising villages, I was passing right through the middle of the village with my headlamps on high beam. Suddenly came into my view a lovely dog running away wit ha smoked Grass-cutter (an animal as big as a rabbit but more delicious). The people saw it and within a minute, everyone was taking up the chase. The dog was concerned and was forced to drop the meat and so save his life. “Do you like Grass-cutter meat Father?” “No, but I do like dog with Tanduay.” Though I don’t subscribe to the view of that pessimist who said: “The more I know about men the more I like my dog.”