One Faith: 30 cultural flags process into Stella Maris Church
THOUSANDS of people gathered to worship and celebrate the cultural diversity found within their shared Catholic faith.
More than 30 different cultural communities attended Maroochydore Parish’s fourth annual Multicultural Mass last Sunday, dressed in vibrant traditional attire.
Fr Gerard Lai said the “beautiful cultural dress of the different nationalities added to the beauty of the Liturgy”.
Archbishop Emeritus Mark Coleridge presided over the Mass, echoing the words of Pope Francis in his homily, “tutti fratelli… we are all brothers and sisters”.
We gather “to listen to what God has to say,” rather than to “the voices that speak for a monoculture”.
“We are all flesh and blood to each other.”
“Those who come from elsewhere” are not a burden to be rejected but a gift, Archbishop Coleridge reminded the assembly.
Bigger than boarders: “The presence of Archbishop Coleridge was a symbol that our Catholic faith is bigger than just who we are here on the Sunshine Coast,” Fr Brannelly said.
During the Our Father, the assembly was invited to pray in their own language, Fr Lai said he was “struck by the array of languages being spoken at one time”.
“It was a beautiful display of unity within diversity,” he said.
“It made me realise I needed to touch up on my Cantonese and Mandarin prayers as well ha ha.”
Cultural Dance: Maroochydore parishioners put on a concert performance to showcase the different music and dances of their unique cultures
Following the Mass, everyone was invited to stay and watch the traditional dances while trying different culinary samplings put together by the parish’s cultural communities.
Parishioner Robbie Amhaz held a Lebanese food stand for the first time this year, “I was proud to represent Lebanon and give people a taste of the cuisine”.
“It was a highlight to have other Arabic people there helping me and seeing how much people loved the food,” he said.
“To see so many cultures together in harmony, sharing the same faith was a blessing.”
Fr Brannelly said an event like the Multicultural Mass could “only take place through the generosity of parishioners”.
“To celebrate a liturgy with more than a thousand people and then feed them all for free is a real testament to the generosity of the 31 different cultural groups who volunteered.”
Made with Love: Cultural communities share tastings of their cultural dishes with 1500 people
Parishioner Chris Bowden said the Mass displayed “what Catholicism is all about: coming together as one family Christ”.
“It was a powerful reminder that the Catholic Church is unique in its universality, embracing people of every nation, language and culture,” he said.
“Seeing the church itself overflowing for Mass, the heaving crowds around the food stalls and cultural performances was a sight to behold.”
I am “proud to be part of a parish that embraces the diversity of its community”, parishioner Jonard Erro said.
“Thank you to Maroochydore Parish for organising such a beautiful celebration, I truly believe this special Mass is helping bring people closer to the Church,” parishioner Mila Sims said.