Media Release

Texas, Sep 20: There are some celebrations that feel like more than just an event and HKCA Monthi Fest 2026 was certainly one of them. It was an evening filled with faith, tradition, music, laughter, food, and most importantly, the warmth of our HKCA family coming together.

The evening began with the Holy Mass, giving us an opportunity to pause, pray, and come together in faith. The Mass, honoring Mother Mary’s birth, was celebrated by Fr Joy. He blessed the ‘Novem’ and explained the significance of Monthi Fest to the congregation. The First reading was by Ruby Saldanha. The responsorial psalm was performed by Diane Pereira. Second reading was by Chris Pinto. The offertory was made by Chris Pinto and Karen Miranda and their beautiful children. Annie Menezes and Sarah Valdar were the Altar Servers.

After mass, Aphra Quadras, carrying the Bambina led the community in a joyous procession to the Parish Hall. With flowers, prayers, and Konkani hymns, the celebration beautifully connected us to our heritage and to the traditions passed down through generations.

Our Emcee Mathew D’Souza kept the evening flowing beautifully with warmth, charm and just the right touch of humor, making sure the celebration was lively, engaging, and enjoyable for everyone.

One of the cherished traditions of Monthi fest is the partaking of the “Novem”. Allen and Ancy D’Souza led the community in prayer, after which members shared in the blessed Novem.
A beautiful performance of Ave Maria by Roma Quadros, Meryl Pinto and Nicole Pinto filled the moment with grace and emotion.

Everyone’s favorite Chai and snacks, namely, Chutney sandwiches, Samosas and Pakoras, were a big hit.

Vice president, Karen Miranda and finance director, Ivan D’Souza welcomed and thanked everyone for joining in the 10-year celebrations.

The HKCA community is very appreciative of the generous contribution made by the Miranda family to the Holy Family Church on behalf of HKCA, to honor Henry Lancy Miranda.

The evening continued with a lively Bollywood dance performance by Nikita and Karina D’Souza, followed by a memorable highlight, ‘Dance Down Memory Lane’. Choreographed by the talented Jennifer D’Souza, the performance celebrated a decade of HKCA memories and brought together core committee members who have served the organization over the years in a fitting tribute to HKCA’s 10-year journey.

A beautifully created anniversary video presentation by Kiara Vaz took members on a nostalgic journey through 10 years of HKCA, revisiting the many events, friendships, celebrations, and unforgettable moments shared over the years. Seeing these memories come alive on screen was a touching reminder of how much the community has grown and the many memories created together.

Of course, no HKCA celebration would be complete without capturing the moment in a group photo! A big thank you to our photographer Roshan D’Souza for beautifully capturing the event.

With DJs Chris Pinto and Reanne D’Souza keeping the music going, members took the opportunity to dance, catch up with friends, and simply enjoy being together.

Our cherished founding members Vivian Madtha and Prescilla Madtha shared a heartfelt and nostalgic glimpse into how HKCA first came to life and the beautiful journey it has taken since. Our charming members Chris Pinto and Karen Miranda touched our hearts with their warm and encouraging words inspiring everyone to get involved and bring their own special spark to HKCA’s many activities.

Dinner followed with a delicious array of traditional dishes, lovingly prepared by our own HKCA members and thoroughly enjoyed by all. An amazing team of volunteers worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure everything ran smoothly. While these efforts may not always be the most visible part of an event, it is these little acts of service that make a big difference.

Adding a special touch to the evening, the immensely talented Jacqueline Fernandes delighted the audience with a surprise performance of Lorna’s beloved song ‘Tuzo Mog’.

The evening continued with Housie Housie, bringing even more excitement and laughter to the room.

The celebration concluded on a beautiful and traditional note with the singing of the “Laudate”.

As everyone headed home, there was a lot more than just the evening’s program to take away. There were smiles, conversations, new memories, old friendships, and perhaps a few tired feet after all that dancing!

Monthi Fest is a beautiful reminder of who we are as a community. It is about keeping our faith and traditions alive, sharing our Konkani heritage with the next generation, and creating a place where families and friends can come together and feel at home, even miles away from the Konkan coast.

A special thank you to Maxim Pereira for continuing the nostalgic sugarcane tradition, and to Diane Pereira for creating the beautiful festive backdrops.

Our heartfelt appreciation also goes to every volunteer, performer, committee member, participant, and family who contributed in ways big and small. From church preparations and event setup to flowers, food, music, photography, and activities, every contribution helped make the celebration truly memorable.

Special thanks also to our platinum sponsors, Shekar and Stella Naik, for their generous contribution and support.

This is the heart of HKCA; faith, family, friendship, tradition, and a whole lot of fun.

Here’s to the memories we’ve made, the traditions we continue to cherish, and the many more celebrations still to come.