United in Faith

Monday 24th June 2019

On Saturday the diocese and Caritas hosted the Third International Mass at the Cathedral. The annual event has grown each year and those gathered on Saturday heard music from around the globe, with choirs representing many different ethnicities from around the diocese.

It was an event of a truly international flavour. The congregation was made up of hundreds of parishioners from around the diocese who had come to celebrate the diversity and vibrancy that the diocese has to offer.

The Mass began with a hymn sang by St Ambrose Barlow High School Pupils. We then heard the Penitential Rite lead by the Filipino Choir. A highlight of last year’s celebration was repeated as the African choir sang as the Book of Gospels was brought forward.

In his homily Bishop John told those gathered: “We draw on our differences and our diversity as they make us stronger. But we are united in our faith.”

You can listen to all of the homily here.

A representative from the Chinese community led the prayers of intercession in Chinese, these were reproduced in the Mass booklet for those present to follow in English.

This year’s Theme of ‘No One Left Behind’ celebrated our many different communities and also reflected on the importance of solidarity both in our faith and in our communities. This was illustrated during the offertory when parts of a jigsaw were presented by some of the school pupils present. When placed together the jigsaw showed a world made up of many different faces. The San Damiano Cross was then added to the finished world to represent our connectedness in Christ.

One of the highlights of the day then came as Bishop John invited the congregation to say the Our Father in their own native language. The cathedral was filled with prayer as many languages came together as one to pray in the words that Jesus taught us.

Following communion pupils from St Charles Primary in Swinton performed as hymn called ‘Be the Change’ which encouraged us all to make small changes to make a the world a better place, it was a fitting end to a joyful celebration.

Our parishes have a wonderful sense of community and this was opportunity to join together in recognition of the gifts and talents of those who have chosen to settle and make the Diocese of Salford their home.

Thank you to all those choirs, schools and individuals who helped make this year’s Mass a success. We look forward to next year’s celebration!

Tagged | Around the Diocese