WITH abounding “colour and energy” an array of cultures packed St Stephen’s Cathedral, Brisbane, last Sunday (August 26) for the archdiocese’s annual Multicultural Mass.
Celebrating his first Multicultural Mass as Archbishop of Brisbane, Archbishop Mark Coleridge spoke of the many gifts each ethnic community brought to the Church.
“The Archbishop said we are all part of one tribe,” Centre for Multicultural Pastoral Care (CMPC) director Ursuline Sister Anne Surtees said.
“(He said) we are part of the tribe of Jesus.”
Ethnic groups formed part of the entrance procession with Archbishop Coleridge, other clergy and various community chaplains.
A member of the Korean community proclaimed the First Reading while the South Sudanese Community Choir led the Responsorial Psalm.
A representative of the Timor Leste community proclaimed the Second Reading and the Filipino Community Choir led the Gospel Acclamation and the sung parts of the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Prayers of Intercession were offered in Hispano-American, Sudanese, Korean, Burundian, Chinese, Lebanese and Vietnamese.
The Indonesian community presented the gifts of bread and wine, and sang during the Offertory procession.
They and members of the Korean, Lebanese, Chinese, Sudanese, Indonesian, African and Hispano-American community choirs led the singing during Communion.
Sr Surtees said other ethnic communities were also present including the Vietnamese, Italians and Albanians.
The celebration was organised by the Ethnic Ministers Group, various ethnic communities and the CMPC to conclude National Migrant and Refugee Week.
It also marked the 60th anniversary of the Apostolic Constitution Exsul Familia on the pastoral care to migrants and refugees.
After those gathered thanked Archbishop Coleridge for celebrating Mass he, in turn, “said thank you in about ten different languages”, Sr Surtees said.
“That was very well received,” she said.
“People were just so delighted.”
