Pics: Joachim D'Souza
Oman, Sep 11: The Konkani-speaking community of Sts Peter and Paul Church, Ruwi on Friday September 7 evening gathered in big numbers, raising their voices in unison and praising the Almighty for the gift of Blessed Virgin Mary to mankind. The church brimmed with thousands of faithful as the feast of Our Lady of Nativity, or Monti Fest as it is popularly known, was celebrated with great fervor and devotion. The Mangalurean community from the parish has always been the vanguard of promoting culture, nourishing native traditions and enhancing fraternal bonds. Accordingly celebration of Monti fest is very much looked forward for recreating the fond memories from our native place and it is one of the premier events hosted by the faithful every year.
The celebration of Monti fest 2018 in Sts Peter and Paul Church, Ruwi commenced with nine days of novena prayers on August 29. The days of novena are a preparation for the Monti Fest and harvest feast for the whole family. The novena began each day with the celebration of the holy eucharist mass with spiritual enrichment through sermons, bestowed on the huge congregation in Konkani by Fr Joaquim D’Souza, Capuchin, the visiting priest from Farangipete, Bantwal taluk, DK district.
At the end of the novena and eucharistic celebrations on each day, the crowd mainly children offered flowers in a ceremonious manner to Infant Mary. Treats were distributed every day to children and adults sponsored by the humble faithful of the Mangalurean community. The grotto was illuminated in a graceful white-and-blue combination which uplifted the celebration mood.
Over 600 little children gathered in front of the Church grotto with flowers spreading the excitement of birthday celebration of our Mother Mary, setting the mood right for the congregation to involve wholly. The gathered faithful sang the melody ‘Sakkad Sangatha Melyaam', with the choir and the procession heading in reverence, led by Michael Passanha carrying the Bambino, followed by the new corn carried by Alwyn Saldanha and Ginny Saldanha. Holy pictures for the blessing were carried by Nelson Correia and Blessie Correia, eucharistic ministers, the altar servers and the celebrant priests joined the procession for onward ceremony and blessing in poise and devotion. Novem (paddy corns) was arranged by Melwyn Peris and family brought from India for the occasion by an ardent faithful Alwyn Saldanha.
Solemn celebration of the holy eucharist in the church was led by Fr Joaquim D’souza as the main celebrant, Fr Raul Ramos, parish priest, Fr Marian Miranda, spiritual director of Konkani community and Assistant parish priest of Ruwi Church along with Fr Roshan Rosario as co-celebrants. At the beginning of the mass, Ajith Walder, president of the Mangalorean Catholic Centre of the Parish (MCCP) welcomed the congregation on behalf of Mangalurean community.
A melodious Mangalurean choir led by Maestro Apolinaris D’Souza was the highlight of the evening celebrations for 9 days novena as well as on the feast day, which helped the devotees to participate in the eucharistic celebrations in a more meaningful way.
Fr Marian Miranda – assistant parish priest and the spiritual director of Konkani community from the parish proposed the vote of thanks. Special thanks were extended to the guest priest Fr Joaquim D’Souza for his spirit filled homilies for all the 9 days novena. Fr Marian also thanked the parish priest Fr Raul Ramos and assistant parish priest Fr Bijo Kudilil for their wholehearted support and prayers.
Fr Marian Miranda also appreciated and thanked the Nativity feast committee led by the Mangalureans steered by Valerian Peres. He was in praise of the choir, the altar servers, eucharistic ministers, the ushers, the sponsors, the church staff and all who have worked tirelessly to make this celebration of Monti Fest 2018, possible in utmost gaiety and grandeur.
Fr Marian Miranda also thanked the community parishioners who supported wholeheartedly the preparation of Noven Jevan and arranging refreshments for the children during 9 days of novena. Valerian Peris, the main co-ordinator of Nativity feast committee thanked the individuals for their wholehearted support and companies who supported by their food products of goodie bags distributed to the children.
The Nativity feast celebration committee led by main coordinator Valerian Peres, along with Stanley Fernandes, Henry Martis, Sunil Furtado, Clita Crasta, Dilip Correa, Helen Lobo, Jessie Pereira, Lancy Lobo, Mariette Fernandes, Michael Pasanna, Monica Dantis, Naveen Mascarenhas, Paul D'Souza, Peter Misquith, Philomena Saldanha, Ajith Walder, Dolphy Frank and Stany Suares for promoting culture and traditions and playing an important role in strengthening the bond among the Mangalurean Catholic expatriates in the Sultanate of Oman.
Keeping up the tradition of the harvest festival, authentic Mangalurean vegetarian dinner was served. The preparation of the Noven Jevan was initiated by Helen Lobo, George Andrade and their dedicated team and community volunteers were indeed praiseworthy. More than 75 volunteers ensured that 1300 faithful were served Noven Jevan meticulously without wasting any time. The tireless efforts of the Monti fest celebration committee and the dedicated volunteers paid off and the delicious home-cooked food was appreciated by one and all.
The entire Mangalurean community of Ruwi parish along with other community faithful and also from neighbouring parishes flocked together as one family to the mother church to celebrate the Nativity of our Mother.