Media Release
Houston, Apr 18: The Easter event was thoughtfully planned to bring the community together for an evening of celebration, fun, and fellowship. Preparations began early, with the setup team arriving at 3:00 pm to organize the venue, including seating arrangements, décor, food and beverage stations, sound systems, and activity areas such as the welcome desk and photo booth. This ensured that everything was in place for guests as the event officially began at 5:30 PM.
The festivities kicked off with a lively Easter egg hunt led by vice president, Karen Pinto, giving children an opportunity to engage in games and enjoy treats. Participants who discovered a golden egg during the Easter egg hunt were rewarded with special prizes, adding an extra layer of excitement to the experience.
Members and guests were warmly welcomed and checked in by compliance director, Lidwin Machado and her team.
A big thank you to Nisha D’Souza for the comforting tea, which was especially appreciated given the sudden downpour of rain. The delightful chutney sandwiches and delicious chicken sukka from Jessica and Varun’s ‘Mumbai to Mangalore’ were a hit and kept everyone happily satisfied.
The décor truly added charm to the event. The beautiful balloon arch by ‘Balloon Art Decor and More’ elevated the ambiance and served as a perfect backdrop for Easter photos. The tables and the decor were aesthetically arranged by communications director, Karen Vaz, adding an elegant touch to the overall setup.
President, Maureen Crasta, extended a warm welcome to all members and guests, reaffirming HKCA’s commitment to fostering a keen sense of community among the members and encouraging everyone to actively participate in its events. Maureen appreciated the founding members’ participation and their support and added that fourteen out of the twenty founding members were present at the Easter event.
Maureen also expressed her heartfelt gratitude to HKCA’s platinum sponsors, Stella and Shekhar Naik (Realtors) for their continued support.
During this time, Maureen was joined by special ops. Director, Nancy Quadros, who greeted the audience in Konkani and also led a hymn in Konkani, with many members joining in the singing.
A first of many, the evening was further enlivened by DJ Julius, whose fantastic music kept the energy high and the crowd even more vibrant.
The face painting station by Carolina Ibarra was a big hit with both the kids and the adults!!
Kiara’s art table for personalized Key Chains was very popular with members of all age groups!!
As the evening progressed, the focus shifted to interactive entertainment, beginning with an icebreaker to form groups for the lip sync battle. This activity encouraged participation, fostered new acquaintances, and geared the participants to prepare for the upcoming game.
A short break followed, allowing guests to socialize and enjoy a general dance session, particularly engaging for youth and young adults.
During this time, MC Nisha announced a series of spot prizes, sparking excitement as members eagerly scrambled to win them.
Kudos to Kiara Vaz who got several people on the floor for a line dance session. With her guidance, everyone had an excellent time learning new steps.
Darel D’Souza and Nigel Pereira hosted fun youth and adult games for our young and young at heart members. The Egg rush showdown game brought kids and our youth together in teams of two for a fast-paced, music-filled competition full of fun and laughter. As music played, teams circled colorful eggs, and when it stopped, they raced to complete exciting challenges — from collecting specific egg combinations to silly interactive tasks. Each round earned points, and the first team to reach three points won. With teamwork, quick thinking, and plenty of giggles, this game was a highlight of Easter excitement!
Darel and Nigel kept our adult members on their feet with a fast-paced Easter egg shuffle game, where players circled around colorful eggs until the music stopped. Each participant grabbed an egg, and the emcee called out a specific combination — challenging players to quickly form groups based on egg colors. Those who couldn’t match the requirement were eliminated, while golden eggs added a fun twist by acting as a wildcard. With quick thinking, movement, and a bit of luck, this game kept everyone energized and engaged!
Events director, Dinesh Vaz brought the ‘Lip Sync Battle’ to life. All the participants thoroughly enjoyed themselves and performed without any inhibitions.
It was then time for dinner. Grace before meal was led beautifully by Prescilla Madtha and Michael Moras. Food from Jessica and Varun’s ‘Mumbai to Mangalore’ won everybody’s heart and soul!!!! The Mangalorean cuisine was on point and was genuinely enjoyed and appreciated.
Dinner was followed by the Raffle Prize announcement. The grand raffle prizes were generously sponsored by Charles & Florine Pinto and Henry & Juliana Miranda.
Next, Shelton and Cristabel Cabral hosted a classic game of Housie Housie (Bingo). The session kept everyone focused on their tickets while providing a relaxed yet spirited atmosphere, complete with prizes for the winners.
Big shout out to Roshan D’Souza and Lorrain Sequeira for capturing HKCA’s precious Easter celebration moments. A big thank you to all our volunteers who helped us set up for the event and helped us pack up after the event! We appreciate you!!
To celebrate HKCA’s ten-year milestone, each presenter for the evening was a member of one of the original founding families, paying tribute to the roots of our community.
Finally, the evening concluded with a group photo to capture memories of the Easter celebration.
The structured yet lively agenda ensured a seamless flow of activities, fostering community spirit and making the Easter celebration both meaningful and enjoyable for everyone involved.
HKCA extends its heartfelt gratitude to all the generous sponsors, participants, volunteers and supporters whose contributions made the evening truly memorable.
Konkani Catholics interested in joining Houston Konkan Catholic Association may contact us at https://www.hkcaus.org/houston-konkan-catholic-contact-us/