The extraordinary diversity that defines St. Dominic Church was on display in a most creative way on June 8, when eight languages were spoken during the Pentecost Sunday Mass.

The Mass began with a procession of parishioners waving streamers and wearing colorful ethnic garb as they entered to “We are Marching/Siyahamba,” adapted from a South African hymn.

Parishioner Bella Gulosh spoke in Italian to deliver the first reading, fittingly the passage from Acts describing the moment of Pentecost when apostles praised God in different tongues. Then, member Laureen Ahyi delivered the second reading in French, a language she learned growing up in Benin. Church members were able to follow the readings by referring to the English versions in their bulletins.

Visiting priest Fr. Maurice Emelu gave his homily in English, explaining Pentecost is technically the birthday of the Church since it commemorates “when the church was sent forth to bear witness to Christ across nations, peoples and languages.” The prayers of petition were read in five more languages -- Yoruba, Spanish, Portuguese, Ukrainian and Japanese.

And then the choir sang in Spanish, “Somos el cuerpo de Cristo, we are the body of Christ.”  The inclusive Mass was jointly planned by the Cultural Celebrations Committee of the Racial Equity Task Force and the recently formed G.R.A.C.E group (Gathering in Relationships and Cultural Exchange), which is for church members who have immigrated to the United States.

After Mass was over, parishioners made their way to the large meeting room for an international potluck hosted by G.R.A.C.E., where Elizabeth Lins was setting out dozens of handmade chocolate treats called brigadeiros from her native Brazil.  Guests tasted dishes from Japan, Nigeria and other countries.

Monica Arinze, originally from Nigeria, not only brought chafing dishes filled with food she made, her family brought bags of donated items, including food and paper goods, which they presented to the church during the offertory. “In my country, that’s what we do,” she said.