LNS Multicultural Celebration: “Many Cultures. One Family in Christ.”
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Last Sunday, 16 August 2026, St. Leonard’s Church and Hall in Naremburn came alive with colour, music, prayer, food, laughter and friendship as our Lower North Shore Parish gathered for a truly beautiful Multicultural Celebration with the theme: “Many Cultures. One Family in Christ.” It was more than simply an event on our parish calendar. It was a powerful expression of who we are as a parish community: people from many countries, cultures, languages and traditions, yet brought together by one faith and belonging to one family in Christ.
The celebration began with our 10:30am Multicultural Mass, and from the very first moments, St Leonard’s Church was alive with the colour, beauty and diversity of our parish family. We were honoured by the presence of representatives from local and state government, including Willoughby Mayor Tanya Taylor, Councillor Ana Greco, and Tim James MP, State Member for Willoughby, whose presence added to the significance of the occasion.
The church was filled to overflowing with members of our diverse cultural communities, many proudly dressed in their traditional attire. The rich colours, beautiful patterns and distinctive dress created a striking celebration of the many nations, cultures and stories that have found a spiritual home in our parish: many cultures, beautifully united as one family in Christ.
The Mass was presided over by our Broken Bay Diocesan Administrator, Fr David Ranson, who offered a deeply inspiring homily reminding us that diversity is not something that divides the Church, but one of the beautiful gifts that makes us truly Church. He reflected on how our different cultures, languages, backgrounds and traditions enrich the one Body of Christ and reveal the wonderful breadth of God’s family.
Throughout the Mass, our unity in diversity was beautifully and naturally woven into the celebration through the multilingual elements of the Liturgy of the Word, the Prayers of the Faithful proclaimed in different languages, and the Offertory Procession, where meaningful cultural symbols and gifts represented the many communities that make up our parish. It was a moving reminder that, although we come from different parts of the world and speak different languages, we are united in what matters most: we gather around the same altar, listen to the same Word of God, receive the same Eucharist, and profess the same faith in Christ.
Within the Mass, another significant and joyful moment took place as Fr. Vincent was formally installed as Parish Priest of Lower North Shore Parish by Fr. David Ranson. The Rite of Installation marked not only the official beginning of Fr. Vincent’s pastoral leadership, but also a renewed commitment between pastor and people to journey together in faith. Surrounded by the many cultures and communities that make up our parish, the occasion was a beautiful reminder that the parish priest is called to gather, guide, and serve God’s people, helping us to grow as one parish family, united in Christ and sent together in mission.
After Mass, the celebration continued in St. Leonard’s Church Hall, where the atmosphere quickly became one of great joy and fellowship. Deacon Peter McCulloch and Jade Tran guided us through the afternoon as Masters of Ceremonies, warmly welcoming everyone and keeping the celebrations flowing beautifully. We were also delighted to welcome Tim James, who offered the opening remarks before everyone settled in for one of the most anticipated parts of any multicultural celebration: the food! And what a feast it was!
Tables were filled with dishes prepared and generously shared by our different cultural communities. There were flavours, aromas and recipes from across the world, giving everyone an opportunity not only to enjoy wonderful food but also to discover something of one another’s heritage.
Food has such a beautiful way of bringing people together. Around the tables, conversations began, new friendships were made, old friendships were renewed, and people who might ordinarily attend different Masses or belong to different cultural communities simply sat together as one parish family.
Then came the afternoon’s wonderful cultural presentations, and each community brought something unique and beautiful to the stage.
The Italian Community delighted us with beautiful Neapolitan songs, carrying with them the warmth and musical heritage of Italy.
The Indonesian Community offered the distinctive and graceful sounds of the Angklung, demonstrating how individual instruments can create something beautiful when played together, a wonderful image, in itself, of our multicultural parish.
The Croatian Community shared a lively medley of traditional Croatian songs, while the Filipino Community brought colour, grace and energy to the stage through the traditional dance Estudiantina.
Representing our Spanish-speaking communities, the elegant Marinera showcased the beauty of Peruvian culture through its graceful movement and joyful rhythm.
The celebration continued with the Chinese Community, presenting the traditions surrounding the Mid-Autumn Festival, followed by the joyful movements of our Pacific Islands Community.
Our African Community led by our very own, Fr. Stephen Wayoyi who just celebrated his 25th Anniversary of Priesthood 2 days before, brought the program to an energetic and joyful presentation with the vibrant Molungo dance.
Finally, our LNS Young Adult Group brought another burst of energy and concluded the afternoon with their fun-filled song and dance presentation of “Dancing Queen,” bringing plenty of smiles and laughter from the crowd.
Each performance was different, yet every presentation communicated something similar: gratitude for our heritage, pride in the traditions handed down to us, and joy in being able to share them with others.
Perhaps one of the greatest blessings of the day was seeing people staying, watching, cheering and enjoying one another’s cultures. We did not simply celebrate our own communities; we celebrated one another. That is what made the day so special.
In a world where differences can sometimes create division, last Sunday reminded us that our differences can instead become gifts. Our languages, music, food, clothing, dances and traditions need not separate us. When Christ is at the centre, they enrich the one family to which we all belong.
As St Paul beautifully reminds us, “There is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:4–5). Our Multicultural Celebration gave us a glimpse of that truth. We are Italian, Indonesian, Croatian, Filipino, Peruvian, Chinese, Pacific Islander, Vietnamese, African, Australian and so much more, but before everything else, we are brothers and sisters in Christ.
The afternoon concluded with words of gratitude from Fr. Vincent, a closing prayer led by Fr. Stephen, and a wonderful group photo capturing the faces of a community filled with joy.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this celebration possible: our organizers and coordinators, clergy, Deacon Peter and Jade, our guest speaker Tim James, musicians, choir members, readers, volunteers, food coordinators, photographers, those who prepared, brought and served food from different international communities, those who decorated and cleaned, and every cultural community that generously prepared a performance or presentation. Thank you also to everyone who came and joined us. Your presence made the celebration complete.
Last Sunday was not simply about showcasing different cultures. It was about belonging. It was about recognizing that there is room for everyone at the table. It was about discovering the face of Christ in people whose stories, languages and traditions may be different from our own.
And above all, it was about celebrating the beautiful reality that is our Lower North Shore Parish: Many cultures. Many stories. Many gifts. But one faith, one community, and one family in Christ.
May the joy we experienced yesterday continue long after the music has stopped and the decorations have been packed away. May we continue building a parish where everyone feels welcomed, valued and at home, and where the richness of our diversity always leads us more deeply into unity in Christ.
What a beautiful day. What a beautiful parish family. And what a beautiful glimpse of the Kingdom of God among us.
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