St Laurence’s Celebrates the Universal Church

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The parish of St Laurence’s in Cambridge marked Pentecost with a joyful celebration of the Church’s rich diversity, bringing together parishioners from many different nations and cultures for a vibrant and prayerful Mass.

The international celebration saw members of the congregation wearing traditional national dress, while hymns were sung in Italian, African languages, Filipino and English. The Prayer of the Faithful reflected the parish’s multicultural community, with the bidding prayers proclaimed in 18 different languages, highlighting the universal nature of the Catholic Church.

The liturgy also included the commissioning and recommissioning of the parish’s Ministers of the Word and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, recognising their important service within the parish community.

Adding to the joy of the occasion, two of the parish’s younger members received their First Holy Communion, making the celebration an especially memorable one for the whole parish.

Following Mass, parishioners gathered in the church gardens for a bring-and-share lunch featuring national dishes from around the world. The occasion provided an opportunity for fellowship and friendship as people celebrated the many cultures represented within the parish.

The parish expressed its gratitude to everyone who helped make the celebration such a success, thanking all those who contributed to the liturgy, music, hospitality and shared meal.

The Pentecost celebrations at St Laurence’s offered a joyful witness to the unity of the Church, bringing together people of many nations, languages and cultures in prayer, worship and fellowship as one family in Christ.