VANCOUVER—For Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, B.C. day is a day to cherish Canada’s cultural diversity.   

On Aug. 6, Our Lady of Sorrows Parish celebrated Día Alegre, Spanish for “a happy day.”  Father Richard Zanotti, CS, the pastor and coordinator of the event, said Día Alegre has been a tradition for the past 15 years. 

The event serves “to bring communities together and celebrate the different cultures of our parish,” said Father Zanotti, a member of the Scalabrinian Missionaries, an order that works with migrants, refugees, and displaced people. 

About 1,000 people participated in the event, most of them parishioners, but also family members and guests.    

Amateur entertainers presented a variety of performances: dances, songs, and instrumental music representing different cultures. A dozen food booths offered tastes of cuisines around the world.  

“(The event) fits perfectly with Canadian ideas. We are a multicultural and multi-ethnic society, and we are proud of that,” said Father Zanotti. 

Photo courtesy to Our Lady of Sorrows Parish
Photo courtesy to Our Lady of Sorrows Parish
Photo courtesy to Our Lady of Sorrows Parish
Photo courtesy to Our Lady of Sorrows Parish