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Fil-Canadian Catholics mark centennial of St. Mary's Church in Vancouver

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Rowena Papasin | TFC News Vancouver

<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j9nzKMr6XgE?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>Filipino Catholics in Vancouver joined the centennial celebration of the St. Mary&#x27;s Catholic Church in the Canadian province.The Knights of Columbus, which serves as volunteers at the church, estimate that about 80 percent of the parishioners there are Filipino.Vancouver&#x27;s Archbishop J. Michael Miller led the centennial anniversary Mass, with other clergymen concelebrating.Miller shared that St. Mary&#x27;s which was formed in 1923, held its first Mass at a rented store.&quot;It’s wonderful to be able to celebrate 100 years,&quot; said the prelate. &quot;There were 40 people in the parish and now, there are nearly 5,000 who come on Sundays. It’s a very alive place.&quot;Miller honored Filipinos for their unwavering faith as Catholics.&quot;Continue your devotion, your outreach to the marginalized, to those who are kind of on the outskirts, bring your friends back to church.&quot;B.C. government officials also joined the celebration, led by Premier David Eby, who was invited by the Knights of Columbus.&quot;No matter how much life has changed in a hundred years, I know that there are some things that haven’t changed here at St. Mary’s,&quot; said Eby. &quot;It’s the commitment to the faith, to supporting each other, to teaching our children the values of compassion, concern for the poor and concern for the vulnerable.&quot;Filipino-Canadian lawmaker Mable Elmore, meanwhile, thank the parish for its efforts to help the marginalized.&quot;I know your commitment to migrant workers, to those marginalized, to those less fortunate, to lift them up,&quot; said Elmore. &quot;And so, on behalf of our province and really our country, thank you.&quot;Aside from Filipinos, parishioners from more than 50 other nationalities make up the parishioners of St. Mary&#x27;s Church.

Vancouver Archbishop J. Michael Miller honored Filipino Catholics for their unwavering faith.