Cleveland Asian Catholic Gathering
Saint Clarence Church - North Olmsted
October 5, 2014
About 1000 people celebrated the Annual Mass and Gathering on Sunday, October 5, 2014 at 12 noon at St. Clarence Church. This is the 17th year the event was hosted by the Asian Ministry of the Diocese of Cleveland.
It was an afternoon of family celebration of Asian culture and spirituality beginning with the celebration of the Mass with the Most Rev. Roger W Gries, OSB along with priests from the different Asian Catholic communities.
The cultural and ethnic diversity of the Asian Catholic communities assembled at the Mass was reflected throughout the celebration. Members of the various Asian communities came together with their own traditions, dressed in colorful ethnic clothes: shimmering saris, kimonos, karawangs, hanboks, barongs, and ao dai.
The entrance procession included Vietnamese drums. During the Mass there was an incense ceremony by the Vietnamese, and the Indian aarti. Hymns were sung by the choirs in various Asian languages: Tagalog (Filipino), Korean, Vietnamese and Hindi (Indian).
The readings and the prayers of the faithful were also said in various Asian languages.
Following the Mass there was fun, cultural festivities, and a luncheon with typical Asian food prepared by the various communities.
A gong was sounded to begin Mass (and at the Consecration)
The Entrance Procession and Song at the annual Gathering of the Asian Catholic Community and the Asian Mass of the Diocese of Cleveland was the hymn called 'We are many parts, we are all one Body.'
Bishop Roger Gries leads the Entrance Procession
Cheryl D'Mello of the Asian Ministry of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese welcomed the Asian community to the annual Gathering of the Asian Catholic Community and the Asian Mass. The Theme this year was 'The Bridge' which reflects on the harmony and unity but also recalls the transition of the immigrant community.
The Responsorial Psalm at Mass was spoken in Sinhala, also known as Sinhalese. Sinhala is the native language of the Sinhalese people, who make up the largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka, numbering about 16 million. Sinhala is also spoken, as a second language by other ethnic groups in Sri Lanka, totaling about 3 million. Sinhala is one of the official and national languages of Sri Lanka.
The second reading (from St Paul's letter to the Philippians) was read in Korean.
The many Asian-American singers in the Choir sang the hymn, Alleluia Raise the Gospel.
The Most Reverend Roger Gries, OSB was the Celebrant at the annual Asian Mass of the Diocese of Cleveland. In his sermon (start and finish on this video) Bishop Gries celebrates the cultural diversity that makes up the Body of Christ.
The Offertory was an inspiring display of cultural diversity.
The Prayers of the Faithful offered at the annual Gathering of the Asian Catholic Community and the Asian Mass of the Diocese of Cleveland was truly special. Unfortunately, the Vietnamese and Japanese prayers were cut off the video but the others are in English, Korean, Tagalog, Chinese and Indian.
Prayers of the Faithful
Hannah Hasan played violin and Gemma Choe played piano for the Communion Reflection.
