ON July 1, my Timorese friend and I had the privilege of being invited by the Lourdes Matha Malayalee Catholic Community from India to attend the feast of St Thomas at St John Fisher, Church, Tarragindi.
Every part of the grounds and Church were decorated for the festivities.
The women and girls in their stunningly beautiful garb, Blessed Mother Teresa’s sisters in their distinctive saris and the four priests in their richly embroidered vestments added to the attraction.
The decorations glittering in the sunlight put a smile on our faces as we drove up the street.
The drummers, gathered under a marquee of shimmering gold streamers intertwined with coloured lights at night, set the tone in announcing the impending arrival of the King in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Time stood still in the two-hour long plus sung Mass in which language was not a barrier because, as Catholics, we know that we are at Calvary.
It would have been wonderful to understand what Father was saying in his homily because his congregation hung on his every word.
After Mass, and to the beat of the drummers, a procession began to slowly wend its way around the Church grounds and back to the marquee.
Fr Thomas Areekuzhy went out of his way to thank us for attending the celebrations.
The intensity of the Indian worshippers was infectious and their organisation was second to none.
To our way of thinking, it is us who should be thanking the St Thomas Christians for enriching Australia with their culture.
Jenny Davies,
Coorparoo, Qld
