On Sunday 30 August hundreds of faithful came together at Queen of Vietnamese Martyrs Church, Inala, for the annual Brisbane Archdiocese Multicultural Mass.

The Mass was presided over by Archbishop Shane Mackinlay and the liturgy was a powerful witness to the unity and richness of our diverse Catholic community. The church was filled with the vibrant colours of our many cultures and parish communities, from traditional dress to heartfelt prayers in many languages, all gathered as one.

Among the various cultures which gathered were members of the Timorese and Papuan New Guinea communities. The Carmelites of Australia & Timor-Leste provide part time Chaplaincy services to both communities in the Archdiocese of Brisbane – Fr Anacleto Guterres da Costa (Timor-Leste) and Fr Paul Sireh (PNG). Parish Priest of Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish, Coorparoo, Fr Martinho da Costa, was also present.

After Mass, there were cultural performances, shared refreshments and activities for all ages. We pray that everyone who attended felt deeply connected to our universal Church and to the body of Christ, which knows no border or boundary.

Story & photos courtesy of Archdiocese of Brisbane.

More photos below