“The struggle of Nelson Mandela, his fight for freedom, his fight against discrimination, his struggle for justice and his triumph against adversity should be our inspiration on our journey of faith,” preached Fr. Alex Osei at the community’s regular Sunday noon Mass at Holy Name Church on the Danforth. “In the preservation of his humanity under the most inhumane conditions, he was able to look up. There is a light at the end of the tunnel that brings peace, that brings joy, that brings hope.”

The small community is dominated by immigrants from the Democratic Republic of Congo, but includes Africans from more than a dozen countries. Whatever differences there may be among Africans, all Africans feel close to Mandela, said Patrick Mpania, Toronto African Catholic Community parish council secretary.

“He came out of the 27 years (in prison) and pulled all the people together,” said Mpania. “Mandela is somebody who doesn't belong to his family, or his country, or this continent of Africa. Mandela belongs to the world. The world now has become a village. Everyone belongs to everyone.”

As Congolese Canadians look back on the violence and chaos in their homeland, Mandela’s example gives them hope, said choir member Stephanie Pembele.

“With all the things happening in Congo, we really look up to him. We really wish that something like that could also happen in Congo, so we can free the people of Congo, especially the ones in Goma,” she said. “He inspires us a lot.

We don't consider ourselves aside from that. We Africans are all together, all united. One person like that is the pride of the whole of Africa. It is that he is our father, all of our father.”

As Mass began Osei spoke to the congregation of Mandela as “Our great father who lifted up the Gospel truth of forgiveness.”

Capuchin Father Bruno Kesangana presided at the bilingual Mass in French and English.