‘A Beautiful Mosaic’ Diocesan Indian Apostolate celebrates Catholicism

With a congregation dressed in gaily colored ethnic costumes and bearing symbols of their shared Catholic heritage, Our Lady of Peace Church was a significant image of our multicultural Catholic Church.

Bishop James F. Checchio served as principal celebrant of the Oct. 13 Mass held in the North Brunswick church. Members of the Indian and Sri Lankan communities joined with those of Bangladeshi and Pakistani ancestry to create a richly diverse liturgy which reflected the numerous dialects and faith traditions of those whose Catholic ancestry stretches back to the apostle Thomas in the year 52 A.D.

In his homily, Bishop Checchio thanked those present for their faith and their dedication to the Eucharist and the Church, stressing the importance of the Eucharist in helping them live as disciples to the world today. He offered words of encouragement to them as immigrants, expressing gratitude for what they do for the Church and reflecting on the newness and “freshness” they bring to their communities.

Following the liturgy, the congregation shared an ethnic meal and enjoyed a diverse presentation of cultural music and folk, traditional, even dancing in the Bollywood style.  

The Indian and Sri Lankan Apostolate has been in existence for more than 15 years, said Sister Miriam Perez, diocesan coordinator for the Office of Multicultural Ministry. 

“[We] minister to a culturally diverse population throughout the Diocese by accompanying each unique cultural group, meeting their needs and promoting an understanding and celebration of the rich cultural diversity of the Church,” Sister Miriam explained. “As with any other cultural Mass, [the liturgy] is celebrated in their native language which speaks to the heart, bringing a sense of belonging.”

Sister Miriam observed that the multilingual liturgy’s music, prayers and symbolic offerings each represent the congregation’s particular culture, assuring “each of the different ethnic groups make up a rich and beautiful mosaic picture of the Diocese.”

In addition to the Indian and Sri Lankan apostolate, the Diocese of Metuchen ministers to Catholics who worship in the African American, African and Caribbean; Brazilian and Portuguese; Chinese; Filipino; Hungarian; Indonesian; Korean; Polish, and Vietnamese faith traditions. The needs and concerns of the diocesan Hispanic community are addressed by the Office of Hispanic Evangelization and Pastoral Ministry.

Further information, including contacts and a listing of Masses sponsored by the apostolates, may be found at diometuchen.org/multiculturalministry. 


Scenes from the Indian Multicultural Mass.   —Hal Brown photos