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October 6, 2025
The vibrant diversity of the Catholic Church was joyfully celebrated on Saturday 4 October as Bishop Peter Collins presided over the Jubilee Mass for Migrants at St Luke’s Catholic Church, Peterborough.
The celebration brought together parishioners from across the Diocese of East Anglia, offering a powerful witness to the universal nature of the Church.
The Mass opened with a striking procession of flags from around the world, each one carried with reverence to symbolise unity in Christ and to highlight the extraordinary cultural diversity found not only in Peterborough but throughout the diocese. The colourful display set the tone for a liturgy marked by joyful song, heartfelt prayer, and deep solidarity.
Throughout the Mass, hymns and prayers were offered in a rich array of languages — including Hindi, Spanish, Polish, Shona, Igbo, Hausa, Bulgarian, Slovakian, Portuguese, Malayalam and Tetum — a reminder that though we may pray in many tongues, our worship rises together to one God.
The Scripture readings carried profound meaning for the occasion. The first reading, Isaiah 61:1–3a, 6a, 8b–9, proclaims the Lord’s anointing to bring good news to the poor, liberty to captives and comfort to the broken-hearted — a message of hope to those who have left their homelands seeking security, opportunity, and freedom from injustice. The Gospel reading from Luke 4:16–21, in which Jesus reads this same passage from Isaiah in the synagogue and declares its fulfilment in Himself, echoed the call for liberation and dignity for all people. Both readings resonated deeply with the lives of migrants and refugees, who often embody the struggle for justice, hope and belonging.
In his homily, Bishop Peter reflected on the importance of diversity in the Body of Christ. He spoke of how Jesus Christ upon the Cross stands as the one true symbol that unites us all, transcending every language, culture and border. He encouraged all present to build communities rooted in love, welcome and faith.
At the front of the church stood the CAFOD-commissioned Jubilee icon, created by Ethiopian artist Mulugeta Araya. The image, inspired by the day’s Gospel, was chosen to reflect both Ethiopia’s strong tradition of iconography and the Jubilee’s focus on liberation for those enduring poverty, captivity, oppression and inequality. Its presence added a profound spiritual depth to the celebration, inviting all to contemplate Christ’s mission to bring freedom and hope.
The Mass was concelebrated by Bishop Peter Collins with the support of Fr Peter Wygnanski, and was organised locally by Fr Jeffrey Downie, parish priest of St Luke’s and dean. Both Bishop Peter and Fr Jeffrey expressed heartfelt thanks to everyone in the parish and across the diocese who had worked so generously to make the event a success.
Following the liturgy, the celebration continued in true community spirit as parishioners and visitors shared a variety of food and drinks, reflecting the global flavours of the Church. Laughter, conversation and friendship filled the church — a living sign of the unity and joy found in Christ.
The Jubilee Mass for Migrants was not only a celebration of cultural diversity but also a moving reminder that the Catholic Church is truly universal. Rooted in Scripture and centred on the Cross, it offered a powerful message of welcome, solidarity and hope for all who journey far from home yet find belonging in the family of God.
Photographs from the Mass can be accessed here.
