The procession prior to the diocese’s Oct. 3, 2026 Migration Mass passes through Holy Spirit Parish’s parking lot. RILEY GREIF | WKC
‘That’s what heaven looks like’
Migration Mass celebrates ‘patchwork quilt’ of cultures across diocese
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
The communities filling Holy Spirit Parish in Bowling Green on Oct. 3, 2026, came from a wide variety of nations as Catholics of all ages participated in the Diocese of Owensboro’s Migration Mass.
During his homily, Bishop William F. Medley asked people to stand when he named their nation of origin – adding that he was sure to miss someone and invited the faithful to tell him of additional countries he did not list.
The countries and territories represented at the Mass included Mexico, Myanmar, Guatemala, the Philippines, Vietnam, Columbia, Venezuela, El Salvador, Micronesia, Honduras, Puerto Rico, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Chile, Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, and others.
Prior to the liturgy, which was open to all, the faithful had processed through the parking lot of Holy Spirit and were blessed with holy water by the bishop as they entered the church. Many wore traditional clothing and carried flags from their native countries and pictures of their country’s patron saints as they prayerfully walked together.
Bishop Medley reflected on that experience in his homily, commenting that as he welcomed the faithful, he thought to himself, “that’s what heaven looks like.”
“We represent a lot of places here today and I’m proud to welcome you as bishop,” he said. “What a beautiful patchwork quilt we form today as a Church of western Kentucky.”
Young people carry a banner with an image of Bl. Isidore Ngei Ko Lat, a catechist who was martyred in Myanmar in 1950, while participating in a procession before the Oct. 3, 2026 Migration Mass at Holy Spirit Parish in Bowling Green. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
The bishop added that after this day, “I will think in a different way about what heaven will look like.”
“I may not know all your names, but Jesus does,” he said. “You are all called by name.”
The multi-lingual liturgy featured Mass readings in different languages, and was followed by foods made by various cultural communities, a pickup soccer game, and face-painting for the children.
Fr. Martin Ma Na Ling, parochial vicar of St. Pius X Parish in Owensboro, said that he has only been to the United States and his country of birth, Myanmar, but that “seeing people from different cultures, with different music and different clothing, like the bishop said, this is like heaven.”
He said he believed the number of attendees had increased from last year’s Migration Mass, which was hosted at St. Stephen Cathedral in Owensboro, and is a smaller space. According to the Office of Worship, this year it is estimated to have welcomed between 600-700 people.
Young parishioners of St. Joseph Parish in Bowling Green, Ximena Martinez and her friends, sisters Samantha Flores and Valentina Flores, had participated in a traditional Mayan dance during the pre-liturgy procession.
“It felt really special, like being a part of something, like I belonged,” said Samantha. Her sister added, “I met a lot of people from other cultures, including people from my school!”
Ximena said the celebration was “interesting because everyone had a different style” in their cultural clothing, and “fun, like when everyone stood up from every country” when the bishop called on them during Mass.
“That was fun, to see where people are from!” she said.
A little girl receives a temporary butterfly tattoo during facepainting for children after the Oct. 3, 2026 Migration Mass at Holy Spirit in Bowling Green. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Women walk in the procession prior to the diocese’s Oct. 3, 2026 Migration Mass hosted at Holy Spirit Parish in Bowling Green. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
People wearing shirts with the word “Mexico” kneel during distribution of Holy Communion at the diocese’s Oct. 3, 2026 Migration Mass at Holy Spirit Parish in Bowling Green. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Juan Carlos Lazo Soriano, a seminarian for the Diocese of Owensboro, plays in a pickup soccer game after the Oct. 3, 2026 Migration Mass at Holy Spirit Parish in Bowling Green. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Young parishioners of St. Joseph Parish in Bowling Green, Ximena Martinez and her friends, sisters Samantha Flores and Valentina Flores, are seen after attending the Oct. 3, 2026 Migration Mass at Holy Spirit Parish in Bowling Green. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Originally printed in the November 2026 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
