Media Release
Kuwait, Apr 28: April 25 marked a significant day for the people of Ahmadi Church Konkani community in the State of Kuwait. After an ardent desire and a lot of anticipation, Our Lady of Arabia Church in Ahmadi was privileged to host the beloved Bishop of Udupi diocese, Dr Gerald Issac Lobo who celebrated the Solemn Mass on Friday April 25, accompanied by Fr Melvin Dcunha, Fr Noel Almeida, Deacon Sylvester and Konkani community spiritual director Fr Gasper Fernandes.
His lord ship was greeted with a garland by the Parish Priest Fr Alfredo Micua Our Lady of Arabia Church Ahmadi along with a bouquet of flowers by Wilma Monteiro and her husband and further was escorted by the members of the Konkani Committee which comprises of 22 members.
Anxiously awaiting were the devotees who intended to participate in the Holy Eucharist, all of whom who were the residents of the coastal areas of Mangalore and Goa.
The Konkani Committee, spear-headed by spiritual director Fr Gaspar Fernandes assistant parish priest of Our Lady of Arabia Church Ahmadi, who is the back bone of backing the Konkani community in all spiritual activity, took the initiative with immense pleasure in organizing and welcoming the Lordship . It was indeed a marvelous gesture on behalf of the crowd that was present in a large number, in welcoming the Bishop as well.
Prashant Ferrao welcomed the gathering and the clergy for their honorable presence with his words of welcome and a small biography about Bishop, Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo. During his homily he further addressed the crowd, with his captivating his message, which mainly included
1. The importance of Prayer & Word of God in daily life
2. The importance and necessity of establishing small Christian communities in the parishes of Kuwait.
3. He also illuminated the gathering with the significance of Christian Catechism from birth until death. Last, but certainly not the least.
4. The importance of having a Bible in every Christian home and also in addition to that, the benefits of having a Bible along with oneself.
Fr Gaspar Fernandes raised a short thanksgiving as a token of appreciation and gratitude thanking his Lord ship Bishop Dr Gerald Issac Lobo for his presence by accepting the invitation and for celebrating the Holy Eucharist and offering his blessing and prayers for all the people who attended the Holy mass. As an icing to the cake, the melodious choir of the church, led the fellowship to an entirely different consecrated level.
The mass was followed by a get together, a delicious pot-luck (home cooked) lunch gathering at the clergy residence, by the Konkani committee members and choir members of Ahmadi Church along with their families. It was rather a pleasant rendezvous, a sign of love and union amidst the community. Noel, Mable and Salvador for captured the photos.