Garifuna Mass keeps culture alive

A Mass on Nov. 13 at Blessed Seelos Church proved that the spirit of the Garifuna people is alive and well in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

From the song in the opening procession, “We’re Coming from the Homeland of Our Ancestor,” to the final blessing and recessional, those of Garifuna descent sang and danced in their native customs. These descendants of slaves, originally from Africa, have not forgotten their roots.

“We have our own language and culture, and we hold on to it wherever we go,” said Sister of the Holy Family Jean Martinez, who attended the Mass. Her Garifuna heritage is from Belize, while most Garifuna who live in New Orleans hail from Honduras. “We express it publicly where we are. It’s a story of pride, heritage and closeness to the Lord, who kept us and helped us through when we were abandoned.”

Mass recalls day of deliverance

An annual two-hour Mass is always celebrated on a day near Nov. 13 or 18, the day in 1796 when the Garifuna people landed off the coast of Honduras. It features Garifuna traditions in song and dance – to the beat of drums and maracas – in praise and thanksgiving to God who stood by them during their struggles.

“We recognize that without God we cannot do anything,” Mass organizer and choir member Maria Elena Zuniga said. “God led our great great-grandparents from Africa. They suffered for us, but we prosper now.”

During the offertory, children and adults dressed in traditional Garifuna clothing made of cotton, processed to the altar to present Father Joseph Benson, pastor at Blessed Seelos, foods such as casaba bread made from a plant root, bananas, symbols of fish and items native to the culture such as the wowla, which is used to strain the potato root.

A strong people

Sister Jean mentioned the fragile history of the Garifuna people, who were originally taken by the British from West Africa as slaves and shipwrecked off the Island of St. Vincent. Some Africans from the Gari tribe escaped and began to marry St. Vincent indigenous people. It is believed the Garifuna people trace their roots to there. Their language contains a lot of Spanish, some French and other words attributed to African.

 By 1796 during a war between the British and French, Garifuna were deported from St. Vincent and sent to Bahia, Roatan, Honduras. They eventually inhabited the coastline of Trujillo, Honduras and Belize. More than half of the people of Garifuna descent today live in the United States in New Orleans, New York, Miami and Los Angeles.

Because of the struggles of the early Garifuna people, today’s Garifuna hold their heritage close to their heart.

“My grandmother used to tell me not to forget who I am, who I came from,” Maria Elena Zuniga said. “I am proud to be Garifuna.”

Keeping culture alive

In the homily translated into Spanish as he spoke English, Deacon Jesse Watley said Catholics, as the Garifuna were doing at Mass, have to use their time, talents and passions to grow the kingdom of heaven.

“God has given us talents to use to grow his kingdom,” Deacon Watley said. “But, we are afraid and sit on those talents. … Today’s Gospel is a wake-up call. … We’ve got to stop being afraid and stop burying our talent (as one of the servants in the Gospel).  Living your life for Jesus is not a spectator sport. You cannot sit on the sidelines. You have to play the game and live your life for Jesus.”

Teresa Arana, who is from Triunfo in Tela, Honduras, attended the Mass with family members originally from Honduras. She came to the United States 27 years ago with her husband. They now have three daughters.

She said the Mass has much meaning because it reenacts the pain of the Garifuna people.

“You remember everything, and you dance punta, too,” she said.

Following the Mass, a reception with foods typical of Garifuna such as rice and beans with coconut cream (rre luma efe), corn tortillas and rice with vegetables was held.

Another Mass planned

  Starting in 2012, Zuniga said a second Garifuna Mass will be celebrated in the archdiocese at St. Theresa of Avila Church in April, the month when the Garifuna landed at St. Vincent.

“I think it’s important to me because we don’t want to lose our culture,” Zuniga said. “We don’t want it to disappear. We want to it to continue and teach our children about our culture.”

Christine Bordelon can be reached at cbordelon@clarion herald.org.