How one parish in Perth celebrated Migrant and Refugee Sunday last weekend.
By Robert Hiini
The Parish of the Immaculate Conception in East Fremantle was alive with the sounds and colours of Africa last weekend as Perth’s Vicar for Migrants, Fr Blasco Fonseca and his parishioners celebrated the advent of the Migrant and Refugee Sunday.
The 25 members of the inter-parish Memories of Africa Choir turned out in traditional dress and sang hymns from their countries of origin as well as animating parts of the Mass, such as the Gospel Acclamation and Offertory, in a style common throughout Africa.
The Sunday Mass was the culmination of Migrant and Refugee Week (August 24-30) celebrating the presence of Migrants and Refugees in Catholic parishes and communities.
The week had been promoted by the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference as an opportunity to foster greater inter-cultural knowledge and inclusion. The theme given to the 95th Migrant and Refugee Sunday by Pope Benedict focussed on St Paul as migrant and "Apostle of the Peoples," urging Catholics everywhere to share the letter and Spirit of the Gospel with people of any and all cultures.
Music and dancing continued after Mass with various Memories of Africa choir members breaking into songs of celebration from their home-countries as Mass-goers gathered for after-Mass refreshment. The Voices of Africa choir sing on the third Sunday of every month at St Thomas the Apostle Parish in Claremont.
