Open air mass planned to celebrate diversity in Mill Hill (From Times Series)

Open air mass planned to celebrate diversity in Mill Hill

5:46pm Friday 3rd July 2009 in

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A Mill Hill parish will celebrate the diversity of its community on Sunday.

The parishioners of Sacred Heart and Mary Immaculate Church, in Mill Hill, will take part in an open-air mass and picnic at 11.30am on the field at St Vincent's School, in The Ridgeway, for the congregation and parish groups.

Parish priest, Father Kevin O'Shea said: "It's to bring about diversity and unity.

"We are a diverse parish and that's what God would expect of us. In the Mass, to respect our diversity, we will obviously have the mass in English, but the music will be in various languages. The Filipino community will be doing the gospel procession, the Nigerian community will be leading the offertory procession and hopefully others will join in the dance and the music."

There are seats for approximately 200 people, but parishioners are encouraged to bring rugs and garden chairs to sit on. There will also be games and races for children, along with a raffle on the day, raising money for Thiago Primary School in Kenya.

Mr O’Shea added: "I would hope to have about 500 parishioners. The children from St. Vincent's will be doing a tableau while the Ave Maria is being sung. I think there will be football, face painting and the usual games for children. The forecast is good so we pray that it will be sunny."