Report: Loy & Victor
Pics: Raja & Odi
Salalah, Sep 14: The Konkani speaking community of St Francis Xavier Church, Salalah, Sultanate of Oman celebrated Monthi Fest on Friday, the 13th of September 2013. It was a great day indeed as the celebration brought back memories of homeland. Fr Alber D’Silva, the parish priest of Ghala Church was the main celebrant. The mass was con-celebrated by Fr Ashok Gonsalves, our own parish priest.
The celebrations began by the recitation of Holy Rosary by Winny Sequeira. After the rosary the congregation moved to the grotto with the melodious hymn ‘Sokkad Sangatha melyam’ in the air, children with plates of flowers and adults placing flowers at the feet of Mother Mary. Fr Albert blessed the new paddy and the children showered flowers while the choir sang ‘Moriek Hogollsiyam’. The mass was grand with the liturgy and the melodious choir led by Victor Moras & group, Vinith Antony Moras at the key board and Dwayne at the guitar. The colorful offertory procession by small children and adults, was organized by Lawrence D’Souza.
In his homily, Fr Albert emphasized the importance of Mother Mary as the centre of the Church and of our family. She is the best role model for girls and women of today to be imitated and keep the families balanced and strong in faith. The mass became visually meaningful as Michel Pereira projected the hymns, prayers and pictures on the screen.
Judith D’ Souza was felicitated by Fr Albert for having scored ‘the Perfect Ten’ in 10th board exams. Soon after, all the children were blessed and given complimentary gifts by Fr Ashok Gonsalves. The blessed paddy corn, sugar cane and blessed snacks were given to the faithful. Delicious ‘vorn’ prepared by Peter and Winny Sequeira was served to the gathering. Immediately after the mass Allan D’costa conducted the Housie-Housie game with spot prizes in between coordinated by Agnello Fernandes.
The community then proceeded to the Udupi Restaurant for the traditional Mangalorean banana leaf meal consisting of 28 items in total. It was a grand meal to end the grand day. The credit goes to Allan D’costa and Robert Rego.
The entire program for the day was organized by Loy, Valerian and Thomas Rajesh from Mangalorean community, Melvin and Regina Agnello from the Goan community.