Music, song and prayer have filled St Chad’s Cathedral in celebration of a Weekend of Faith and Culture.

The two-day event (Sat 24 and Sun 25 June) was hosted for people of the St Chad’s Cathedral parish as a joyous expression of the life of the parish as it is today.

Over the last 20 years there has been a huge change of demographic in the parish as more and more people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures come to worship at St Chad’s.

The aim of the weekend was to celebrate the parish’s life together and give people a greater sense of belonging.

Throughout the weekend there have been opportunities to join short tours of the cathedral; parishioners have been invited to attend in their national/cultural dress and enjoy food prepared by the many different nationalities.

The 4.30pm Vigil Mass on Saturday was an African Mass, animated by the Gambian Christian Association and the Daughters of Divine Love Religious Order.

The Hail Mary was prayed in multiple languages.

On Sunday the 9.30am Mass was led by St Chad’s Catholic Primary School and the 11.30am Mass featured St Chad’s Cathedral Choir.

At both Masses the Hail Mary was prayed in different languages.

Monsignor Timothy Menezes, Dean of St Chad’s Cathedral, said: “This weekend has celebrated all the people who make up our wonderful parish community, which is so rich in diversity.

“An opportunity to come together and learn about each other’s backgrounds and cultures, and altogether praising God for the community we are building.”

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