Multicultural Sunday celebrations in SVD communities in Sydney and Brisbane have brought together a diverse range of groups, showcasing their cultural heritage, while celebrating the gift of unity in faith.

At the SVD’s provincial headquarters at Marsfield in Sydney, the annual Multicultural Sunday event attracted big crowds, despite the threat of inclement weather, with SVD parishes from Macquarie Fields and Ingleburn in the Wollongong Diocese joining in the festivities.

Mission Secretary for the SVD Australia Province, Fr Truc Phan SVD said about 300 people attended the day which began with Mass in the St Arnold Janssen Chapel.

“We had planned for the Mass to be held outside, but the weather was looking a bit threatening, so we had it in the Chapel and it was beautiful,” he said.

“The prayers of the faithful were said in six or seven different languages and we sang the Aboriginal Our Father.

“The music was very good with a choir singing and also a Vietnamese group sang a reflection song during the Mass.”

In his words of welcome to the Multicultural Celebration and Assumption Mass, Fr Truc said the day highlighted the gift of unity in diversity.

“Today, we come together as one community to celebrate the richness of our different cultures, traditions, languages, and backgrounds. Although we may come from many different places, our faith brings us together as one family,” he said.

“As we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may Mary inspire us with her faith, humility, love, and trust in God.

“Let us be grateful for the diversity that strengthens our community and for the opportunity to share our cultures with one another.

“May this celebration remind us that our differences are not barriers, but beautiful gifts that bring us closer together.”

Following the Mass, the crowd moved outside for the cultural singing and dancing displays.

Beginning with the Australian National Anthem and finishing with a rendition of ‘We are Australian’, both led by the Arnold Janssen Chapel community, there were performances from the Chinese, Vietnamese and Filipino communities as well as the German Australian Dance Group from St Christophorus Community in Croydon and the Indonesian community. The SVD Marsfield Community and Staff gave a rousing version of ‘Waltzing Matilda’. There was a dance performance by Macquarie Fields parishioners and a performance by the Samoan community of Ingleburn Parish.

At the conclusion of the performances, guests enjoyed a shared multicultural meal.

Fr Truc said the day was a celebration of all the different gifts that migrant communities bring to the Church and society in Australia.

“This kind of event is very much in the DNA of the Divine Word Missionaries,” he said.

“It was very much a family kind of celebration. This is the spirit we want to build, one of cultural hospitality with great food, wonderful cultural performances and good company.”

Meanwhile, in the Archdiocese of Brisbane, the St Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Parish Marsden came together to celebrate the Feast of St Maximilian Kolbe and their Multicultural Mass.

Marking the feast on August 14, the community honoured the Polish Conventual Franciscan priest, missionary and martyr who volunteered to die in place of a stranger at Auschwitz during World War II.

Parish Priest, Fr John Quang SVD said the day was “a wonderful celebration of culture, faith and community”, with civic leaders including State MP Cameron Dick, also attending.

He said the whole parish pulled together to help prepare food, decorations, liturgy and activities, and many parishioners wore their own cultural dress as well.

“It was a beautiful reminder of the many cultures that make our parish community so special,” he said.

PHOTOS

TOP RIGHT: The Filipina dancing group at Marsfield's Multicultural Sunday celebration

TOP LEFT: The Arnold Janssen Chapel Community provide a song.

MIDDLE RIGHT: An Indonesian group share a cultural dance and song.

BOTTOM LEFT: Fr John Quang SVD and Fr Nick de Groot SVD celebrating the Mass for the Feast of St Maximilian Kolbe and Multicultural Sunday.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Deacon Gusty Siga SVD (right) with a parishioner, both in their national costume for Multicultural Sunday at Marsden in Brisbane.