CULTURES merged at Our Lady of Lourdes, Sunnybank, at the parish’s first multicultural Mass of the year on February 2.
The “cosmopolitan” parish brought together its finest selection of music, song and dance from cultures around the globe.
Members of the African community processed down the church isle in traditional dance, bringing to the altar the joys and richness of the universal Church.
Music for the liturgy was shared between the Filipino choir, an African choir, a Samoan choir and the Kiribati choir.
The Sunday readings and prayers of the faithful were proclaimed in different languages, including Spanish, Filipino, Chinese, a Nigerian dialect, French and English.
This was the first of two multicultural Masses in the parish community.
Associate pastor Fr Augustine Obi, who was ordained in Nigeria, but works in Brisbane archdiocese, said one of the objectives of the parish was to have multicultural Masses.
“We wanted the celebration of the liturgy to reflect the nature of this parish, one which is very cosmopolitan,” Fr Obi said.
The lively parish has given Fr Obi a taste of the world, and said the parishioners “added colour to the liturgy”.
“We give thanks for the gift of different cultures,” he said.
