Report: Vikas Fernandes

Muscat, Sep 19: The Konkani community of St Peter & Paul Church, Ruwi, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, celebrated the Nativity of our beloved Mother Mary, popularly known as 'Monthi Fest' on September 6, under the guidance of their parish priest & spiritual director, Fr Stephen Lewis, OFM Cap. The faithful honoured the beautifully decorated Infant Mary’s statue in the cradle with fresh floral tributes from little children and the devout faithful of the Konkani community of the parish. The nine-days of novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary commenced on August 28, every evening with Holy Mass.

The Monthi Fest novena was graciously prepared and celebrated with apt messages on Mother Mary’s exemplary life by the visiting priest Fr Rohan Lobo, OFM Cap (Vimukti Social Work Centre, Beltangady, Mangaluru).

At the end of the novena and Eucharistic celebrations on each day, children and adults, offered flowers ceremoniously to Infant Mary at the outdoor stage specially prepared for the feast, which gave a homely feeling of celebrating novena’s back home in India. Treats were distributed every day to children and all gathered sponsored by the faithful of the Mangalorean community. The grotto of Mother Mary was illuminated in graceful white and blue, which added to the celebratory mood.

Over 1,500 faithful gathered in the church on the day of the feast of the Nativity of Our Lady. The Holy Eucharist was celebrated with great fervor and devotion. The Mangalorean community of the parish has always been at the forefront in promoting culture, nourishing native traditions and celebrating community festivals. Likewise, the celebration of Monthi Fest is very much looked forward every year as it recreates fond memories of homeland.

The little children of the parish gathered in front of the outdoor stage with flowers excited to celebrate the birthday of our beloved Mother Mary on September 6. As the choir sang the melodious ‘Sakkad Sangatha Melyaam', the faithful gathered at the outdoor stage. Before the showering of flowers, Natasha Correa read the introductory message and welcomed the congregation on behalf of the Konkani community. This was followed by showering of flowers by the little children and the faithful of the parish.

The festal celebration began with a grand procession led by the altar servers, the faithful, the lectors, the Eucharistic ministers, SPPKC committee members and priests. The statue of Infant Mary and the newly blessed corn – ‘Kanshi’ were brought to the church in procession.

The solemn festive concelebrated mass was presided over by Fr Prashanth Fernandes, OFM. The concelebrants were Fr Stephen Lewis, OFM Cap, parish priest, Fr Jesse Tejero, OFM Cap, assistant parish priest, Fr Philip Nellivila, Fr Varghese Valikkodath, assistant parish priest & Fr Rohan Lobo, OFM Cap Fr Rohan Lobo gave an inspiring homily making the celebration all the more memorable. Prakash D’Souza led the melodious Konkani choir on all the nine days of the novena as well as on the feast day. The choir coordinated by Prakash D’Souza, was the highlight of the evening celebration on the feast day which helped the devotees to participate in the solemn Eucharistic celebration.

As the feast Mass concluded, Fr Stephen Lewis, parish priest, proposed the vote of thanks. Special thanks was extended to the guest priest Fr Rohan Lobo for his spirit-filled homilies on all the nine days’ novenas and all the celebrants for their whole hearted support. Fr Stephen Lewis also appreciated and thanked the Konkani Community Committee members for their selfless service to the community and to the church. He was in praise of the choir, the altar servers, the Eucharistic ministers, the lectors, the ushers, the sponsors, the church staff and all who have worked tirelessly to make this celebration of Monthi Fest 2024, a grand celebration.

After the Eucharistic celebration, Fr Stephen Lewis distributed blessed candles to the generous faithful Muddhoms and sponsors of the day. The newly 'blessed corn', fresh from the first crop of the paddy season from the fields of the Konkani heartland was later distributed to the faithful.

Fr Stephen Lewis also thanked the community parishioners for the arrangement of refreshments for the faithful gathered during nine days of Novena. He also thanked the individuals and companies for their wholehearted support in providing sweets for the goodie bags distributed to the children on the feast day.

Keeping up the tradition of the harvest festival, authentic Mangalorean vegetarian dinner was served after the mass. The preparation of the Novem Jevan, was indeed praiseworthy. Volunteers ensured that the faithful were served Novem Jevan meticulously. The tireless efforts of the Konkani Community Committee, the dedicated volunteers and delicious food and the entire celebration of the Monthi Fest was appreciated by one and all. The Novem Jevan was sponsored by the faithful Konkani community members of the parish. Fr Rohan Lobo came up with a special initiative of distributing coupons for the kids who brought flowers every evening on all nine days of the novena. On the feast day, lucky draws were picked and prizes were distributed. This was followed by lucky games for all.

Below is the list of the winners:

Lucky draw winners - flower showering coupons less than 9 Days

1. Yianna Cardoza
2. Riona Sara
3. Ethan Noah D’Souza
4. Rachel Vaz
5. Davni Rasquinha
6. Triston Rodrigues.

Lucky draw winners - flower showering coupons of 9 Days

Consolation Prizes :

1. Gabriela Mercys Victoria.
2. Adele D’Souza
3. Cleon D’Mello
Winners:
1. Houeston Pinto
2. Clisha Pereira
3. Reeva D’Souza

Winners of lucky games:

1. Eldest married couple in the Konkani Community – Stanley and Winifred Fernandes.
2. Youngest married couple – Ransan and Ancita Mathias.
3. A Family with highest number of children – Cyril and Vianny Britto
4. Youngest child – Baby Fiona Mendonca (parents Ronald and Anitha Felcian Mendonca)
5. Any member of the Konkani Community who is having 'Mary' in her Name – Harlene Mary Pinto

The whole event was conceptualized and managed by the Konkani Community members, led by the most energetic coordinator, Michael Passanha, Jessie Vivian Pereira (Asst co-ordinator), Shaila D'Souza (secretary), Ashok Mathias (Asst secretary), Cyril Danthi (Liturgy), Shyla Machado (Asst liturgy), Vikas Fernandes (media & entertainment), Reshma D'Costa – (cultural & entertainment).

The bond among the Mangalorean Catholic expatriates in the Sultanate of Oman who provided their selfless service relentlessly on all the nine days of Novenas and on the feast, Day made the Monthi Fest a memorable one for everyone. The entire community experienced the Mangalorean’s’ most revered tradition- the celebration of ‘The Monthi Fest'.

They were grateful to their sponsors:

1. Zahart Al Rawdha Trading for printing of banners and pictures
2. Talentz Enterprises LLC for sound system

Goodie bag sponsors:

1. Muscat Pharmacy & Stores LLC
2. Areej Vegetable Oils and Derivatives SAOC
3. Al Seer Group
4. Muttrah Cold stores
5. Khimji Ramdas
6. Oman Foodstuff Factory, LLC
7. IFFCO
8. Al Reef LLC