Pics: Joachim Pereira
Media Release
Oman, Sep 9: The Konkani-Speaking Community of the Sts Peter and Paul Church, Ruwi gathered in big numbers, raising their voices in unison in praise of the Almighty for the gift of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Friday, September 6, 2019, at 8.15 p.m. The Church was filled with over thousand faithful as the feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, or ‘Monthi Fest’ as it is popularly known, was celebrated with great fervour and devotion. The Mangalorean Community from the parish has always been at the forefront of promoting culture, nourishing native traditions and celebrating community. Likewise, the celebration of the 'Monthi Fest' is very much looked forward to every year as it recreates the fond memories of our homeland.
The 32nd year celebration of the Monthi Fest in Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Ruwi, Oman, commenced with a nine-day Novena from August 28, 2019. The days of novena were preparation for Monthi Fest and harvest feast for the whole family. The novena began each day in the evening after the regular English Mass with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist with spiritual enrichment through sermons, bestowed on the congregation in Konkani, by Fr Roshan Rosario, OFM CAP, the visiting priest from, Bengaluru, India.
At the end of the novena and Eucharistic Celebrations on each day, the children and adults offered flowers ceremoniously to Infant Mary. Treats were distributed every day to children and adults, sponsored by the faithful of the Mangalorean community. The grotto was illuminated in a graceful white and blue, which contributed to the celebratory mood.
The showering of flowers ceremony near the Grotto, on September 6, started at 8.15 pm sharp. Over 600 little children gathered in front of the church grotto with flower, excited to celebrate the birthday of our Mother Mary. The gathered faithful sang the melodious ‘Sakkad Sangatha Melyaam', with the choir and the procession led by Wilber D’Souza carrying the Bambino, further followed by the new corn carried by Raphael D’Souza & Alden D’Souza. Holy pictures for the blessing were carried by Dolphy & Felcy Frank. The Eucharistic ministers, altar servers and the celebrant Priests joined the procession in poise and devotion. Novem (Paddy corns) was arranged by Melvin Peres & Family and was brought from India for the occasion by Alden D’Souza.
Solemn celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the church on September 6, 2019, was led by Fr Roshan Rosario as the main celebrant, Fr Marian Miranda, spiritual director of Konkani Community and assistant parish priest of Ruwi Church along with Fr Vijay Machado, Fr Wilson Vijay Sequeira as co-celebrants. At the beginning of the mass, Jessie Vivian Pereira, president of the Mangalorean Catholic Centre of the Parish (MCCP) welcomed the congregation on behalf of the Mangalorean community.
A melodious Mangalorean Choir led by maestro Apolinaris D’Souza was the highlight of the evening celebrations for the nine-day Novena as well as on the Feast day, which helped the devotees to participate in the Eucharistic celebrations in a meaningful manner.
As the Feast mass concluded, 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 Roshan Rosario for his spirit-filled homilies for all the nine-day novenas and Fr Vijay Machado for his homily on the Feast day. 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. He was in praise of the choir, the altar servers, Eucharistic ministers, the ushers, sponsors, church staff and all who have worked tirelessly to make this celebration of Monthi Fest 2019, possible in utmost gaiety and grandeur.
Fr Marian Miranda also thanked the community parishioners who have given their wholehearted support for the preparation of Noven Jevan and the arrangement of refreshments for the children during nine days of Novena. The Nativity Feast Committee thanked the individuals for their wholehearted support and companies who supported with their food products for goodie bags distributed to the children on the feast day.
The Nativity Feast Celebration Committee consisting Valerian Peres, Stanley Fernandes, Peter Misquith, Clita Crasta, Dilip Correa, Helen Lobo, Dolphy Frank, Mariette Fernandes, Monica Dantis, Lancy Lobo, Jessie Pereira, Michael Pasanna, Naveen Mascarenhas, Paul D'Souza, Philomena Saldanha, Ajith Walder, Harold Lewis, Sunil D’Souza and Stany Soares played an important role in strengthening the bond among the Mangalorean Catholic expatriates in the Sultanate of Oman.
Keeping up the tradition of the harvest festival, authentic Mangalorean vegetarian dinner was served after the mass. The preparation of the 'Noven Jevan' which was initiated by Helen Lobo, Lancy Lobo and their dedicated team and community volunteers, was indeed praiseworthy. More than 75 volunteers ensured that 1,400 faithful were served 'Noven Jevan' meticulously. The tireless efforts of the Monthi fest Celebration Committee and the dedicated volunteers paid off and the delicious home-cooked food was appreciated by one and all.
The entire Mangalorean community of Ruwi parish along with faithful from neighbouring parishes flocked together as one family of the Mother Church to celebrate the Nativity of Our Mother.