Diversity inspires us to celebrate our differences and to respect the dignity and value of everyone. We are all made in the image of likeness of God and we can recognise God in all people, however different they may seem. Diversity reminds us that we are all called to love one another and to create a world where everyone feels loved, accepted and included.
FEAST DAY ALERT
Day 1 – Head
On the first day of our prayer we will be reflecting on The Word of God to help us to understand our theme.
We begin our prayer this morning with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
The Catholic Church is one of the most culturally diverse communities in the world. From cathedrals in Europe to small village churches in Africa and bustling parishes in South America, every culture brings its own way of worshipping and following Christ. And yet, despite all our differences, we are one Church, united by our baptism.
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians
Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body”, that would not make it any less a part of the body.
And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body”, that would not make it any less a part of the body.
If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?
But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
If all were a single member, where would the body be?
As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
The Word of the Lord
R/ Thanks be to God
While the Body of Christ is one, it is composed of many different members, each with unique gifts and roles.
Each member contributes to the whole, and no one is less important than another.
God creates us all unique, but gives each and every one of us a purpose.
We may not be as good as our friends at sport, or at maths, we may not be as confident at talking to others, we may not be as creative as those around us, we may not be living up to other people’s expectations, but we have been made the way we are by God, and He does not make mistakes.
God has given us a special purpose, and we are no more or less important in his eyes for our purpose being less important in the eyes of those around us.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Day 2 – Heart
On the second day of the week we focus on our hearts. How can the scripture that we looked at previously impact our lives, and the lives of others? What themes can we draw from the scripture?
We begin our prayer with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
We heard in the scripture how everyone is given differing attributes and talents to help create a cohesive church of members with differing skills.
One of the more obvious signs of our differences is our cultural heritage.
The word “Catholic” means universal, and a Catholic mass will look and sound (and even smell) different in different churches across the world.
Questions for reflection:
- How does your local parish or school reflect the diversity of the wider Church?
- Have you ever experienced a different cultural way of praying, singing, or celebrating Mass?
- How can we be more welcoming to those from different backgrounds?
Consider the many ways people express their faith across the world. From the vibrant celebrations of Mass in the Philippines, to the solemnity of the Church in the Middle East, to the joy-filled music and dance of African Catholicism, each tradition adds a new layer of richness to our shared worship of God.
Here are a few examples of cultural traditions and heritage being included in Catholic Liturgy, watch as many as you like:
Closing prayer
What Cultural practices would you be interested in seeing in school masses and liturgies? Add a comment to let us know!
Let us pray,
Dear God,
We thank You for the beauty of diversity within Your Church. We thank You for the people from all over the world who bring their unique traditions, languages, and ways of worshiping You.
Help us to appreciate the richness that cultural diversity brings to the Church and to be open to learning from others.
May we strive to be more welcoming and inclusive in our communities, recognising that we are all part of one Body in Christ.
We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Amen.
We end our prayer with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Day 3 – Hands
On the final day of the week we try to put into action the things we have learnt and reflected on previously in the week, hence the hands link!
We begin our prayer with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
We start with a challenge!
This week, consider how you can actively embrace and celebrate the cultural diversity within the Catholic Church. Your challenge is to learn about a particular Catholic tradition or cultural practice from another country or background and share it with others.
It might be a hymn or song from a different culture, a traditional prayer, a way of celebrating a feast day, or an important ritual from a different Catholic community. Research it, learn about it, and see how you can incorporate it into your life.
For example,
- You could explore the traditions of the Church in Latin America, such as the “Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe,”
- You could learn about the way the Mass is celebrated in the African Catholic Church with music and dance.
- You could research the significance of the feast days of saints from different cultures, such as St. Patrick’s Day (Irish tradition) or St. Kateri Tekakwitha (Native American tradition).
In addition, think about how you can help make your school or community more inclusive by reaching out to those who may feel left out because of their background or traditions. How can you make them feel like a valued part of the body of Christ?
Let us know what you find out, either by adding a comment, or emailing one of the chaplains, especially if it reflects your cultural heritage and you would like to see it in school.
We end our prayer with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
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