Media Release

Muscat, Sep 18: The Konkani Community of St Peter and St Paul Church, Ruwi gathered in big numbers, raising their voices in praise of the almighty for the gift of the blessed Virgin Mary on Friday, September 8.

The church was filled with over 1,500 faithful as the feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, or ‘Monthi Fest’ as it is popularly known, was celebrated with great fervour and devotion. The Konkani community of the parish has always been at the forefront of promoting culture, nourishing native traditions and celebrating community festivals.

Likewise, the celebration of Monthi Fest is very much looked forward to every year as it recreates the fond memories from our homeland.

The 36th year celebration of the Monthi Fest at St Peter and St Paul Church, Ruwi, Muscat, Oman, commenced with a nine-days Novena from  August 30. The days of novena were a preparation for Monthi Fest for the entire family. The novena began each day in the evening with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist with spiritual enrichment through sermons, bestowed on the congregation in Konkani, by Fr Manoj D’Souza, OFM Cap, the visiting priest from Mangaluru, India (Currently working in Manipur as a missionary).

At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, and the novena on each day, the children and the adults present offered flowers in a ceremonious manner to Infant Mary outside the church which gave a homely feeling of celebrating novenas back home in India. Treats were distributed every day to all the faithful, sponsored by the faithful of the Konkani community.

The entire Mangalorean community of Ruwi parish along with the faithful from neighbouring parishes flocked together as one family to celebrate the Nativity feast on Friday, September 8. The showering of flowers ceremony started late in the evening. The little children gathered near the open stage, with flower baskets, excited to celebrate the birthday of our Mother Mary. The gathered faithful sang the melodious ‘Sakkad Sangatha Melyaam', with the choir and the procession led by the Priests of the Parish and the visiting priests. The Eucharistic ministers, and altar servers joined the procession in poise and devotion. Novem was grown by Paul D’Souza & family and arranged by Melwin Peris & family, which was brought from India for the occasion by Stany Suares and family.

Solemn celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the church was celebrated by Fr Manoj D’souza OFM Cap, Fr Stephen Lewis (parish priest), Fr Philip Nellivila and Fr Jesse Tejero (the assistant priests), Fr Morris Jalal and Fr Joachim D’Souza, the visiting priests, joined the celebration.

A melodious Konkani choir led by Prakash D’Souza and the team, on all the days of novena and the feast day was the highlight of the evening celebrations.

As the feast Mass concluded, Fr Stephen Lewis – parish priest, proposed the vote of thanks. Special thanks were extended to the guest priest Fr Manoj D’Souza for his spirit-filled homilies on all the nine-day novenas and on the Feast day, and all the celebrants for their whole hearted support. Fr Stephen Lewis also appreciated and thanked the Konkani community committee and the Nativity Feast committee. He was in praise of the choir, the altar servers, Eucharistic ministers, the ushers, sponsors, church staff and all who have worked tirelessly to make this celebration of the Monthi Fest 2023, possible in utmost grand celebration.

Fr Stephen Lewis also thanked the community parishioners who have given their wholehearted support for the preparation of Noven Jevan and the arrangement of refreshments for the children during the nine days of Novena. The Konkani Committee thanked the individuals for their wholehearted support and companies who supported with their food products for goodie bags distributed to the children on the feast day.

At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, Fr. Stephen Lewis – parish priest read the names of sponsors who whole heartedly supported the Monthi Fest celebrations and were honoured with the Mudhdhom candles.

Michael Passanha - co-ordinator, Jessie Vivian Pereira - assistant co-ordinator, Shaila D'Souza - secretary, Ashok Mathias - assistant secretary, Cyril Danthi - liturgy in-charge, Shyla Machado - assistant liturgy in-charge, Vikas Fernandes - media & entertainment, Reshma D'costa - cultural & entertainment secretary and Sanjay D'Cunha - assistant cultural & sports are the executive committee members who represent Konkanni Community of Sts Peter & Paul Church, Ruwi parish. They have been playing an important role in strengthening the bond amongst the Konkanni Catholic speaking community in the Sultanate of Oman.

Keeping up the tradition of the harvest festival, authentic Mangalorean vegetarian dinner was served after the mass. Volunteers ensured that the faithful were served Noven Jevan meticulously. The tireless efforts of the Konkani community committee members, the dedicated service of the Volunteers and the delicious food, was appreciated by one and all in celebration of the Monthi fest