Melbourne News

Chilean community commemorates Independence Day

Monday 8 October 2012
 
By Fiona Basile
Kairos Catholic Journal
 
MEMBERS OF Melbourne’s Chilean and Latin American community gathered at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday 9 September to commemorate the 202-year anniversary of Chile’s Independence Day.
 
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The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart and included an entrance procession where a traditionally dressed ‘Quasimode’ escort carried flags, peace rings and a statue of Our Lady of Carmel, patroness of Chile, to the front of the cathedral.
 
In his homily, Archbishop Hart said, “The particular joy and exuberance of the Chilean community is a typical illustration of how much God works through people to help us re-evaluate where we are and what we are doing.”

“As today we celebrate another anniversary of Chile’s independence we might well reflect on how our country, Australia, has been built up immeasurably by the coming of many migrants to our shores. They have brought gifts of family, love and culture. They have brought stories of tragedy and crucifixion, suffering and agony, but every person who comes here brings a special family history.

“Indeed, as a Church we are committed to welcome those who come to our shores. As a rich country that is our privilege. Also we can be so much enriched by those who come. We join the Chilean people in thanking God for the presence and love of Jesus. In the Eucharist we pledge to be there for each other and to live in the presence of the God who always loves, but will never desert us.”
 
Mr Diego Velasco von Pilgrimm, Consulate-General of Chile in Melbourne said this was the third time the special independence Mass had been celebrated at the cathedral—it will now be celebrated on the second Sunday of September every year.
 
“It helps our population here to restore some deep roots with their history, traditions and faith, and to pass them unto their young ones”, said Mr von Pilgrimm.
 
“Australia hosts the fourth largest Chilean Community abroad, reaching some 50,000 people, including their third generation descendants. A Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving and the singing of the Te-Deum at Santiago’s Cathedral has been a feature of Chile’s early independent life, which started on 18 September 1810.  The purpose is to extend to our expatriate Chilean-origin population in Victoria the possibility to share in these traditions with our countrymen back in Chile.”
 
At the conclusion of Mass, the cathedral’s choir sang a solemn rendition of the Latin hymn Te-Deum Laudamus which “brought many to tears among the Chilean community” according to Mr von Pilgrimm. Following Mass there was traditional Chilean music and dancing outside the cathedral.
 
Photos courtesy of Consulate-General of Chile and Chile Magazine. 
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