Coinciding with the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, the occasion wasn’t dampened by rain and cloudy skies at the start of the day, with vibrant traditional attire, music, prayer and food reflecting the cultural diversity of the parish.

The day began with a multicultural Mass presided over by parish priest Fr Santosh Pereira MSFS. In his homily on the Gospel passage of the day, The Rich Man and Lazarus, Fr Santosh reminded the faithful that the “present-day Lazarus” at our gates are the marginalised members of society, including migrants and refugees.

From the opening hymn – sung in Filipino, English, Chinese, and Spanish – the liturgy radiated the spirit of welcoming and inclusivity.

The prayers of the faithful were delivered in seven languages: Vietnamese, Tok Pisin (PNG), Zomi (Myanmar), Urdu (Pakistan), Spanish (Peru), Malay (Malaysia) and Konkani (India). English translations projected on the screen ensured full participation, while readers in traditional dress underscored the universality of the Church.

One of the most moving moments came when Gelene Kovarskis, choir member and psalmist, called out the 44 countries represented within the parish community. Those present stood to be acknowledged, a gesture that drew heartfelt applause and highlighted the parish’s rich multicultural roots.

The Mass concluded with the communal singing of We Are Australian, accompanied by video and music on screen. The anthem was a powerful reminder that, while parishioners come from different nations, languages, and traditions, they are united in faith, mission and solidarity – a message especially resonant in a world fractured by war and injustice.

Parishioners later gathered outdoors for photographs, their smiles bright against the day’s earlier rain.

This year’s theme, Migrants: Missionaries of Hope, emphasised the resilience of migrants in their faith journey. The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office described it as a call to honour ‘the courage and tenacity of migrants and refugees in light of the current Jubilee Year’.

For Elizabeth parish, it was a chance to celebrate how migrants, even amid challenges far from home, continue to live out the Gospel by placing their trust in God.

The celebration ended with a shared meal that turned the parish hall into a global banquet. Families and individuals brought dishes from their countries of origin – main courses, pastries and delicacies that transformed tables into a feast of nations. The spirit of fellowship at the table echoed the Gospel story of the five loaves and two fish, reminding everyone of God’s abundance in community.

As the day drew to a close, the event stood as a living witness to Elizabeth parish’s mission: to be ‘an inclusive Eucharistic community in the Catholic tradition, united in Jesus and reaching out to all.’

– Louie Trocio