Pics: Ronald D'Souza
Abu Dhabi, Sep 12: St Joseph’s Konkani Community (SJKC) parish here, celebrated in grandeur ‘Monti Fest’ on September 8, here at St Therese Church, within the compound of St Joseph’s Cathedral, in the city.
More than 2,000 Konkani speaking Catholics attended. The celebration began with children showering flowers on Mother Mary, blessing of new corn which was specially flown from Mangaluru and followed by festal high mass celebrated by main celebrant Fr Darick D’Souza OFM Cap from St Annes’s Friary, Mangaluru and concelebrated by Fr Densy Martis OFM Cap from Dubai parish and Fr Rodson Goes OFM Cap, spiritual director of the Konkani community.
After the mass, donors were honored by the spiritual director followed by felicitations to the community students scoring 80% and more in secondary and higher
secondary school examinations held at Abu Dhabi in April 2018. Blessed new corn was distributed to the members.
The guest priests and spiritual director were honored with a flower bouquet. SJKC dommittee doordinator Leo Rodrigues delivered the vote of thanks.
Traditional noven jevaan was served with new corn in milk and sugarcane was distributed.
As preparation for ‘Monti Fest’ celebration, a nine-day Novena was held with holy mass and retreat preached by Fr Darik D’Souza OFM Cap.