Migrant communities celebrated their faith, cultural heritage and identity at Our Lady of Salvation Church in Dadar, Mumbai, on Sunday, September 27, as the parish marked the World Day of Migrants under the theme “Even Just One of the Children.”
The celebration brought together migrant families, parishioners, priests, religious sisters and parish leaders for a Hindi-language Mass and a cultural fellowship program highlighting the contribution of migrants to parish life.
Mumbai, India’s financial capital and one of Asia’s major migrant destinations, is home to communities from across the country who have moved to the city for work, education and other opportunities.
The Mass was presided over by Fr. Michael Pinto, parish priest of Our Lady of Salvation Church. Fr. Arvind Kertatta, OFM, of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Sion, concelebrated.
The liturgy began with a procession in which migrants dressed in traditional clothing welcomed the priests with dance. A symbolic washing of the priests’ hands before they entered the sanctuary added a cultural element to the celebration.
In his homily, Fr. Michael encouraged migrants to maintain their connection with their native communities, values and traditions even while living away from home. He also emphasized that language should not become a barrier to building relationships and community.
As part of the interactive homily, parishioners were invited to share what they valued about migrant communities. Participants highlighted their simplicity, friendliness, faith and cultural traditions.
Migrants also led the offertory procession through a cultural dance, adding to the celebration's emphasis on participation.
After Mass, migrants and guests gathered at Seva Kendra Hall for a fellowship program. Fr. Michael was felicitated with a shawl and a potted plant, while migrant children presented flowers to the other guests.
Fr. Arvind gave a talk titled “Sustain your Identity,” encouraging migrant children to learn new languages and adapt to their surroundings while continuing to value their mother tongue and cultural heritage.
The children then participated in dance performances, games and spot prizes. The program concluded with a vote of thanks, followed by folk dancing accompanied by the mandar and jhanjhar, traditional percussion instruments.
The celebration was organized with the support of the Salvation Migrants Group, led by Sr. Irene D’Silva, Sr. Cosu Pereira and Mr. Alfred Nogueira.
The gathering concluded with fellowship over chicken biryani and kulfi, bringing together faith, cultural expression and community among migrants living in Mumbai.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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