Media Release

Canada, Sep 11: Konkani Catholics of Brampton (KCOB) celebrated their 7th Annual Monthi Fest on Saturday, September 7 at Queen of Peace Church, Norval, Canada and was overwhelmed by the response and support of the Konkani community.

The religious celebration at the church, started with a welcome speech by Priya Fernandez followed by the grand Eucharistic celebration in Konkani by Fr Henry Alva, Fr Andrew Lewis, Fr Baptist Rodrigues and Fr Denis D’Souza. The church resonated with the melodious Konkani choir led by Wilson D’Souza who was ably accompanied by singers Benedicta D’Souza, Clara D’Souza, Colette and Stan Goveas, Ingrid Pereira, Josephine Soosay, Juliet D’Souza, Lara and Paul Rebello, Lavina Saldanha, Nancy and Max Mendes, Nancy and Walter Lobo, Priya Fernandez and Viyona D’Souza, complementing the choir group were guitarist Johny D’Souza and pianist Joshua Leung.

Nancy Mendes, thanked the gathering for their participation at the church and asked the congregation, to follow in a procession to honor Mother Mary with their flower offerings and then to proceed to the hall for the cultural celebrations.

The congregation & the children with their flower offerings assembled in the sprawling lawns to venerate our dear Mother Mary (Fula Udonche) while singing Sakkad Sangatha Melyan and Moriyek Hogolsiya. The children were treated with goodie bags sponsored by Ingrid and Mavy Pereira. It was indeed very touching and heartwarming to watch the enthusiasm of both the young and old as they took part in this tradition.

Naveen D’Souza welcomed the guests with the customary welcome speech. Thereafter, all the sponsors, committee members, donors & priests were called on stage and Fr Henry Alva, blessed the delicious traditional Novemn drink, a concoction of coconut milk and jaggery, prepared by Colette Goveas. This blessed drink was then distributed to all the guests present.

The programme was impeccably handled by comperes Max Mendes and the young and dynamic Meghan Pereira, together they did a fantastic job in keeping the guests entertained with their charm and humor.

The evening’s cultural activity was loaded with dances, hilarious skits & standup comedy acts and melodious singing. The welcome dance on the famous Konkani Hymn ‘Ophir Bhangara’, was performed by Celina and Serina Newton, a tribute to Mother Mary, followed by contemporary and jazz dance by Amelie Lobo, Standup comedy and skits by Nancy Mendes, Max Mendes, Wilson D’Souza, Nancy Lobo, Juliet D’Souza and Naveen D’Souza. An energetic and vibrant group of youth, Glen, Fabina, Alton, Tivona, Wesley, Anushka, Rewis, Leon & Johan did a fusion of Bollywood and Konkani dance performance. Lara Rebello, Glen and Fabina enthralled the guests with their melodious singing.

The kids were excited to take part in the children’s game and gleamed with happiness, as even the ones who did not win, were gifted with chocolates. As always there were tons of gifts, spot prizes, door prizes, 50/50 draw prize and much more.

On behalf of KCOB Stan Goveas, felicitated Joshua Leung for diligently and consistently helping the choir with his musical talents since the last 4 years, all the committee members joined him on stage and Walter Lobo presented him with a token of appreciation for his contribution to KCOB.

Nancy Mendes, recognized the contribution of all the volunteers at this and past events and called them on stage. In her speech she summed up their contribution by a famous quote by Sherry Anderson ‘Volunteers are not paid, not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless’. Three lucky draw prizes, two for the youth and one for the adult were drawn, to gift the volunteers.

KCOB celebrated by cutting a cake and called on stage all those who shared Mother Mary’s birthday.

The traditional authentic Novenm Dinner catered by Konkan Delite was served on time by the ever so helping volunteers. The aroma and the taste of Mangalurean food brought back nostalgic memories of back home and serving of delicious Vorn sealed the dinner with a great Mangalurean experience.

Post dinner, DJ Mario’s foot tapping music made it hard for the guests to resist the dance floor and witnessed some energetic dance moves by all.

All these beautiful moments were captured by Sunil Bantwal and Jack Barbosa on their camera lens.

KCOB thanked the generous contributions received from sponsors and donors:

Royal Lepage Terrequity: Max & Nancy Mendes

Brampton Monuments /Mississauga Memorials - Stan and Collette Goveas

Trinity Auto - Ravi Fernandes

Ipro Realty - Vikas Hamroll

Sun Life Financials - Flavian and Miriam Pinto

Sun Life Financials - Manoj and Rashmy D’cunha

Green PI Inc - Jack and Ophelia Barbosa

Right Fit Blinds - Felix and Jessy Serrao

Royal Lepage Realty - Deepak and Ashu Gupta

Sonwil Financials - Wilson and Viyona D’Souza

Canadian Canara Vision Inc.

Donors and well-wishers:

Albert and Josephine Soosay

Alwyn and Ivy Correa

Boniface and Sharon Veigas

Glen and Fabina Saldanha

Mavy and Ingrid Pereira

Naveen and Priya D’Souza

Nelson and Veena D’costa

Peter and Werrel Lobo

The organizing committee comprising Anita and Sunil Bantwal, Colette and Stan Goveas, Ingrid and Mavy Pereira, Nancy and Max Mendes, Nancy and Walty Lobo and Priya and Naveen D’Souza were also thanked.