Several hundred people representing approximately 25 nations marched in the procession during first ever St. Pius X International Festival.

There were many colors and people of all ages celebrating a diversity of cultures. Participants in their native attire held up flags and sang, "We are the World." A lady with her hair pulled slick back, representing the Philippines, didn't let the rain stop her from wearing her silk brocade in effort to represent her heritage.

Once the parade was finished, out came the food, "which was fabulous," said Cheryle Johnson, executive committee board member. Special dishes from Nigeria, Haiti, Germany, Mexico, Ireland, Creole and, for the kids, good old American hotdogs and hamburgers were prepared as a tasty way of sharing one group's heritage with another.

In conjunction with the food, entertainment was provided by dancers from Nigeria, an Apache storyteller, mariachi band and rides. Exhibits included instruments or games that promoted the diversity of cultures with a special host at each dressed in clothes as if they were in Africa, Europe or South America.

"The event was excellent and a success," said Father John Kieran of St. Pius X.
"Despite the rain, we had a wonderful turnout of people, food and entertainment," said Johnson, adding that the original intent of the event was still accomplished. "Having all these things together in the Parish Hall rather than spread out around the grounds made the day more intimate and brought people closer together in sharing the events."

Last year, St. Pius X took a survey known as the Envision process, a project which sought feedback from parishioners on various aspects of the church. "It displayed the need to build fellowship in the community by bringing all ethnic groups together," said Kieran. The International Festival was part of the plan to help build the sense of community in the church, which houses various ethnic groups among its parishioners.

Sharing their diversity was not all that took place. The event also helped raise money to help other families. A silent auction of items donated by the Conyers business community took place in effort to help raise money for the St. Vincent DePaul - a Catholic ministry that aids people with funds to keep their electricity on, their water running and their refrigerators full when they are undergoing economic hardship.