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MORE than 1,000 people of 50 different nationalities celebrated together in a ceremony at Peterborough Cathedral.
MORE than 1,000 people of 50 different nationalities celebrated together in a ceremony at Peterborough Cathedral.The One Mass celebration was staged by the Catholic parish of St Peter and All Souls, in Geneva Street, Peterborough, to mark the rich cultural mix of the religious community.
The mass was last held 15 years ago when the parish mainly consisted of about 700 white, western Europeans.
Parish priest Father David Jennings said: “Our One Mass celebration is an attempt to bring us together.
“We are fortunate at All Souls in having such a rich diversity of people and nationalities that makes up our parish family.
“Six years ago, when I came to Peterborough, little did I realise the multi-cultural community that was emerging in the city, and how our parish would be a microcosm of it.
“This mass has given us the opportunity to encounter the parish and city community we have become.”
The service began with the angelic voices of a group of young members of the parish performing in front of sizeable crowds, which slowly grew to fill the building.
Once everyone took their seats, a colourful procession made its way along the side of the cathedral and through the nave, featuring the flags of all the nationalities represented in the parish.
It was led by members of the Holy Family Parish, in Ramallah – their twin parish in Palestine – who processed to the altar, where they lit the Peace Candle.
Following the rainbow-like procession, Fr David took the congregation through a number of hymns and prayers, while Canon Jonathan Baker welcomed everyone into the cathedral.
Many of the prayers were spoken in several different languages, including Italian, Polish, Portuguese and Lithuanian.
Due to the large number of people in the cathedral for the Mass, the Holy Communion towards the end of the service had to be taken at four different locations.
The Mass closed with the recessional hymn, before a buffet supper was served in the Cloisters.
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Weather for Peterborough
Friday 10 February 2012
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Temperature: -6 C to 1 C
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