Vibrant parish celebrates unity in the community
By Wendy Shaw
St Finn Barr’s Catholic Church in Invermay recently hosted a vibrant, colourful, faith-filled International Community Day.
People of all ages, including many family groups in national costumes, celebrated ‘unity in the community’ as part of World Refugee Day.
A well-attended Mass was followed by morning tea and entertainment at the adjoining St Finn Barr’s Catholic Primary School.
One of the organisers, Sr Elizabeth Vagg of the Presentation Sisters, welcomed parishioners to the inaugural event, urging them to ‘celebrate together and be one community’ at a time when the world needs unity.
“Here in this parish there are people who have come from many countries, not just recently but over many years,” Sr Elizabeth said.
“So we wanted to celebrate the fact that we are an international community in this parish, and in this particular community of the parish, and I think the lovely family spirit has been growing in this parish for a while so it is great to see everyone contributing here every Sunday.”
Parish Pastoral Council member Christina Fletcher said the International Community Day was a chance for a special St Finn Barr’s celebration as a warm, welcoming and supportive faith community.
“For the migrant community, there is a yearning to showcase how vibrant their cultures are, and to share that with a wider Australian community,” Christina said.
She added that there is a flourishing children’s liturgy program at St Finn Barr’s, where bonds of faith and friendship are strengthened. This also helps families to learn English, and to settle in to the Catholic school community.
“The children’s liturgy program is going well,” Christina said.
“It allows children to develop their faith and our aim is to have those children feel that they are an integral part of this parish, now and in the future.
“The work that we do at the Parish Pastoral Council encourages that. We want to make children feel seen and heard and the International Community Day is another way for them to be seen and heard through their culture, so it is really great.
“I love the community that is here. It feels really welcoming.”
Launceston Parish assistant priest Fr Jessie Banez thanked the organisers of the joyous event and said it would continue to develop over future years. In his homily, he referred to the parable of the mustard seed, where, with time, patience and care the smallest seed grows to offer food and shelter.
“Reflect now on how the Lord nurtures us patiently and waits for us to become fully grown, bearing fruits so that we can provide shelter and food to all groups,” he said.
“This is a very diverse parish, with people sharing different cultures and gifts,” he added after Mass.
“The Lord nurtures us patiently through the gospels as we grow in faith.
“How we wish that our parish continues to also be a symbol of giving and nurturing.”
The Launceston Catholic Parish Pastoral Council’s Maree Wright described the day as wonderful and ‘a real celebration of togetherness’.
World Refugee Day is designated by the United Nations to honour the strength and courage of refugees around the globe.