Among the fastest growing and most diverse multicultural communities in the Parramatta Diocese, the African Catholic community brings together families from more than 30 countries, cultures, language groups and lived experiences. Across that diversity, one thing unites them: a love of, and commitment to, the Catholic faith. And one of the most visible expressions of this is the gathering of African Catholics to celebrate their diversity and unity in the Eucharist.
Fr Peter Williams AM VG. Image: Alfie Ramirez/ Diocese of Parramatta
On Sunday, 27 September 2026, Fr Peter Williams AM, Vicar General in the Diocese of Parramatta, joined by the diverse priests and deacons, celebrated the African Mass with Catholic families and friends at Mary, Queen of the Family Parish, Blacktown.
Returning to the parish where the first African Mass took place in 2016, the celebration strengthened belonging among communities in Parramatta, Sydney, Broken Bay and Wollongong.
(L-R) Fr Ambrose Owusu-Ansah, Deacon John Cinya, Fr Peter Williams AM VG, and Fr Stephen Onyekwere. Image: Alfie Ramirez/ Diocese of Parramatta
According to Fr Ambrose Owusu Ansah from the Ghanaian Chaplaincy at the Diocese of Parramatta, “we celebrate not only the Holy Eucharist but also the gift of community, friendship, culture and faith. We bring with us the joy of Africa, the joy expressed through our smiles, our music, our songs, our warmth, and our deep love for God and for one another”.
Image: Alfie Ramirez/ Diocese of Parramatta
The reading from Philippians (2:1-11) encouraged the faithful to be “united in your love, with a common purpose and a common mind”. That unity was made audible in the prayers offered in Arabic, Akan, Kono, Luganda and Igbo.
Stella Nwosu, the Treasurer of the organisation African Catholics and a member of the planning committee for the African Mass, credited the revival of the Mass in 2025, after almost a decade, to “working closely with a network of African communities”, acknowledging the contributions of communities across the continent.
(L-R) Stella Nwosu, Fr Gayan Thamel, James Atanasious. Image: Alfie Ramirez/ Diocese of Parramatta
Choirs from South Sudan, Nigeria and Ghana, together with the St Cecilia African Choir, shared their musical traditions. Choir Coordinator Chuka Oham described organising the music as “a joy and a privilege” and celebrated the richness of different nationalities coming together in one liturgical celebration. Traditional dress and offerings of fruits and water presented at the offertory demonstrated the cultural flavour of Mass celebrations in Africa.
The celebration continued over a shared meal after Mass, with food sponsored by the Ghanaian and Sierra Leonean communities, the African Australian Advocacy Centre and the Kwetu Project. Kwetu for Communities, a Sydney charity founded in 2018, also supplied free food for people in need. Planning committee member Morris Mukusa said its work focused on “building the capacity of marginalised communities with the best services possible”.
Image: Alfie Ramirez/ Diocese of Parramatta
Among those joining the congregation were representatives of local churches, religious orders, community organisations and police liaison representatives. By combining worship, cultural expression and practical support, the African Mass strengthened connections across communities. For one morning at Blacktown, more than 30 nations prayed as one Church.
The Mass is an example of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan priorities of Prayer, Community, and Listening, Dialogue & Discernment. Visit Synodality to find out more.
View the photo gallery on Flickr, or below.
