Posted on 09/27/2004 7:36:46 PM PDT by sidewalk
Joy marks milestone in a singular career Anniversary of The Rev. Kofi Ntsiful-Amissah's ordination celebrated
COLONIE -- The Rev. Kofi Ntsiful-Amissah was in rare form during Mass Sunday.
During the presentation of the gifts, when Communion wafers, wine and the day's collections are brought to the altar, Ntsiful-Amissah danced, and at one point put a basket of fruit on his head as he moved to the beat of the drums, guitar, piano and congas.
Ntsiful-Amissah's Masses are usually marked with jubilant music, clapping and shouting. But Sunday was an especially good cause for celebrating and dancing.
It was the 25th anniversary of his ordination.
Ntsiful-Amissah's childhood friend from the African country of Ghana, Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah-Turkson, helped him celebrate the day by presiding over Mass at the St. Joseph Provincial House in Latham.
"For the past 25 years, you've accepted your calling to bring the message of the love of God to the people," said Turkson, who was named one of 31 new cardinals last year by Pope John Paul II.
More than 300 people attended the service, including family and parishioners from Ntsiful-Amissah's churches -- St. Joan of Arc in Menands, and Sacred Heart Church and the Black Catholic Apostolate at St. George's, both in Albany.
"I'm feeling so loved and blessed to have reached so many people," said Ntsiful-Amissah, 54, who is known affectionately as Father Kofi.
Ntsiful-Amissah has been a member of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany for 20 years. He did graduate work in theology from 1975 to 1979 at St. Anthony-on-Hudson, a former Rensselaer seminary, before returning to Ghana. When he returned to Albany in 1983, he was aware of only four black Catholics in the area, and they didn't attend church regularly.
So Ntsiful-Amissah, who is also director of ministerial services for the Office of Children and Family Services, started the apostolate in 1984 to give black Catholics a place to worship that catered to their spiritual and cultural needs.
Although the apostolate was created with the black community in mind, the congregation includes those who are African, Hispanic, West Indian, Asian, Cuban, American Indian and white. Members come from the Capital Region, the upper Hudson Valley, Massachusetts and Vermont.
Turkson said many people were initially skeptical of the idea of a black Apostolate. "A lot of us kept our fingers crossed," he said. But he was able to pull it off, and Sunday's celebration was a distinct reminder, Turkson added.
Ntsiful-Amissah and Turkson have known each other since they were teenagers, but it wasn't until the late '70s that they became close friends. Turkson, who is four years older than Ntsiful-Amissah, had just finished his studies at St. Anthony-on-Hudson in 1975 when Ntsiful-Amissah arrived at the seminary.
Turkson had started a soul band called The Incredibles that featured music from Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett. Turkson played the guitar and Ntsiful-Amissah wanted to learn to play. Ntsiful-Amissah eventually became part of the band, and it was then that the bond between him and Turkson strengthened.
The two friends visit each other frequently when Turkson comes to Albany or when Ntsiful-Amissah goes home. Turkson was in Albany two years ago when he came to celebrate St. George's 18th anniversary. When he got the invitation for Sunday's Mass, he thought it was another church anniversary.
"It was just great. I'm glad I had the chance to be a part of the celebration. We've been friends a very long time and to have a chance to be a part of this milestone has been great," Turkson said. "To be back in Albany where I got part of my training is also great."
At the end of Mass, Ntsiful-Amissah thanked members of the audience for their support and "allowing me to serve you. Fifteen, 25 years from now, we shall do this again."
Then Ntsiful-Amissah turned to Turkson and thanked him for attending. "It's not only a blessing and an honor for me, but a blessing for all of us."
Several people expressed their sentiments and gratitude to Ntsiful-Amissah during dinner at the Century House Inn after Mass. Former Green Island mayor John "Jack" McNulty gave Ntsiful-Amissah a U.S. flag that he said was flown over the Capitol in his honor.
"He's a wonderful man," said Christine Linella, a member of St. George's who has known Ntsiful-Amissah for 12 years. "He's just so much fun. It's nice to celebrate with a friend."
Merv Alphonso, who has known Ntsiful-Amissah for at least 20 years, said his friend has a wonderful attitude with a "very, very strong faith in God, sincere hope for a better tomorrow and an eagerness to work hard. He has inspired me so much that I've told him on several occasions that when I grow up I want to be just like him."
The Rev. Michael M. Panful was one of Ntsiful-Amissah's students in the early 1980s when he taught at a seminary in Ghana. He said Ntsiful-Amissah was a jovial person.
"He did all he could to make students happy and that's the way he is now -- a nice guy," said Panful of Staten Island. "I don't consider him my former teacher. In the lecture hall he's your teacher; outside the lecture hall he's your friend."
Ntsiful-Amissah's Masses are usually marked with jubilant music, clapping and shouting. But Sunday was an especially good cause for celebrating and dancing.
I'm sad to say that I'm not surprised nor shocked.
LOL
Just what the Church needed: another blasphemer and fruitcake!
Reading of parishoners gushing about how much fun this clown is turns one's stomach.
We can only imagine how God must feel about what imbecilic, satanic mortals have done to The Church Jesus left behind to nuture our souls until the Second Coming.
Delightful article. Thanks for posting it.
No wonder SSPX and Sedevacantists have increased in numbers...dramatically.
This bishop will apologize every year until he's passed on and finds out where he'll spend eternity.
What to you think of this, Sidewalk?
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