Media Release
Abu Dhabi, Sep 10: St Joseph’s Konkani Community (SJKC), Abu Dhabi, celebrated Monthi Fest, the birthday of Mother Mary, on Saturday September 7 at St Therese Church Abu Dhabi under the guidance of spiritual director Fr Mariyan Miranda OFM Cap. Monthi Fest is a family fest for all Konkani speaking community and it is traditionally celebrated as a harvest festival by the community in the west coast of India. Konkani community in Abu Dhabi, celebrated this feast with grandeur, thanking God for the fruit of the earth, for the nature and for the farmers who toil to give bread to the world.
The celebration began with nine days novenas. The daily novenas included Rosary, devotional hymns, showering of flowers on Infant Mary by children and the Holy Eucharistic celebration by Fr Vijay Machado, Fr Maxim Cardoza OFM Cap, Fr Joel Lopes, Fr Rohan Miranda OFM Cap, Fr Derick D’Souza OFM Cap, and Fr Mariyan Miranda OFM Cap with rich spiritual reflections nourishing the congregation.
Students from the Konkani community who scored 80% and above in the secondary and higher secondary examinations for the year 2023-2024 were felicitated on September 6 by the parish priest Fr Chito Bunda Bartolo OFM Cap. The altar servers and the children’s choir members were also honored, recognizing their enthusiasm and dedication in serving the Novena masses by giving them gifts.
The blessing of new corn (paddy) which was specially flown all the way from Mangaluru and showering of flowers in honor of Infant Mary were held in a traditional way. The faithful and the children gathered in the designated place near St Joseph’s School stage where the statue of Infant Mary was specially decorated. Floral tributes were paid to Mother Mary by little children with the choir group singing a beautiful hymn ‘Moriyek Hogolsiya’. Bishop Paolo Martinelli, the apostolic vicar of Southern Arabia graced this occasion by joining for the memorable event and gave a short message to the faithful gathered.
A good number of children both little-ones and grown-ups showered flowers on Mother Mary. Parishioners of different age groups took part in honoring Infant Mary, which thrilled and triggered nostalgic childhood memories among all.
The festal celebration began with a grand procession followed by altar servers, lectors, eucharistic ministers, faithful, SJKC committee members and priests. Statue of Infant Mary and the new blessed corn – ‘Kanshi’ were brought to St Therese Church in procession by Lancy D’Souza, Leo Rodrigues, John Conrad D’Souza and Austin Menezes. The solemn festive concelebrated mass was presided over by Fr Naveen D’Souza OFM Cap. The concelebrants were Fr Mariyan Miranda OFM Cap, Fr Baptist Rohan Miranda OFM Cap, Fr Jovin Sequeira. Fr Naveen D’Souza OFM Cap with his inspiring reflections during the homily made the celebration festive and memorable. Over 1500 faithful devotees of Mother Mary participated in the solemn eucharistic celebration.
After the mass, Fr Mariyan Miranda OFM Cap, the spiritual director of the Konkani community welcomed all the concelebrated priests and the congregation and the committee members gave the concelebrants flowers as a token of appreciation to them. The parish priest, Fr Chito Bartolo OFM Cap thanked the Konkani community for their commitment and praise worthy dedication to the parish and gave a short message expressing his gratitude to them.
The following parishioners were felicitated by Fr Naveen D'Souza OFM Cap - Konkani Cultural Organization Abu Dhabi, for championing time-honored traditions and making it possible to be practiced in Abu Dhabi; Benedict Quadros, for his timely, exceptional and immeasurable contribution to the community and parish, Dr Daphne Norma Crasta, in recognition of her milestone accomplishment in securing meritorious degree in Doctor of Philosophy (PhD); Jeevan Lobo, for his dedication and devotion in providing the community with the beautiful gift of music and Lancy D'Souza, for his dedication and selfless committed service to the parish community.
The main supporters of this great event of Monthi Fest were honored by Fr Chito Buda Bartolo OFM Cap, Fr Mariyan Miranda OFM Cap, Fr Baptist Rohan Miranda OFM Cap, Fr Naveen D’Souza OFM Cap and Fr Jovin Sequeira.
Vote of thanks was rendered by SJKC coordinator John Conrad D’Souza whereas SJKC committee members Naveen Menezes and Deral Menezes compered the programme. At the end of the festive eucharistic celebration, the traditional and delicious ‘Novem Jevan’ was served. Blessed corn and sugarcane were distributed to all the faithful. It was indeed an excellent gathering as everyone present enjoyed the precious family day celebration which culminated with the ‘Novem Jevan’. The entire festive meal was enriched by melodious music and enthusiastic singing solos and duets by the spirited parishioners, well organized by the SJKC committee member Joachim D'Souza.
The whole event was conceptualized and managed by St Joseph’s Konkani Committee members, volunteers and ushers who provided their selfless service relentlessly for all the nine days of Novenas and on the Feast Day. Monthi Fest is a memorable one for everyone especially for St Joseph’s Konkani Community of Abu Dhabi. The community experienced beautiful and devotional Mangaluru’s most revered tradition.