Media Release

Bahrain, Sep 11: The traditional Monthi Fest celebrations took off at the sprawling open grounds stage of the Sacred Heart Catholic (SHC) Church premises in Manama, Bahrain, honouring the beautifully decorated Mother Mary’s infant statue in the cradle with fresh floral tributes from little children and the devout faithful of the Konkani community of the parish, on Friday September 6.

This time around it was with the august presence of Bishop Aldo Berardi, of the Northern Vicariate, the SHC parish priest Fr Francis, the spiritual directors of the Konkani community in Bahrain, Fr Darel Fernandes and Fr Marcus, other brother priests of the parish, visiting priest Fr Ivan Pinto who conducted the 9-day Novena every evening from August 28, reverend sisters of the Sacred Heart Church Convent & School, in preparation for the Monthi Fest 2024 along with the Konkani faithful.

The Konkani core committee team members led by its energetic convenor Nelson Menezes and with the guidance of their spiritual director Fr Darel Fernandes, the assistant priest of Sacred Heart Catholic Church Bahrain had a lot of planning and work to do behind the scenes for couple of months for the success of the Monthi Fest 2024 festive programmes.

The nine-days of Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary from August 28 every evening with Holy Mass for the Monthi Fest was graciously prepared and conducted with apt messages on Mother Mary’s exemplary life by visiting capuchin priest Fr Ivan Pinto (vacation promoter, St Anne’s Friary, Mangaluru), concluding with concelebrated Holy Mass in Konkani at the main Sacred Heart Church on Friday September 6, with the bishop too officiating and delivering the homily, glorifying Mother Mary who blesses all with fruits of love in different ways.

During the Holy Mass, Bishop HE Aldo Berardi, blessed the traditional 'Mod-dhum' and 'Pir-jenth' candles and the 'first harvest corn' specially flown in for the Monthi Fest occasion from the Konkani heartland, Mangaluru, conspicuously placed at the main out-door stage altar.

The faithful after the blessings went devoutly in procession to the mother church for the sacrifice of the Monthi Fest Holy Mass. The blessed candles were distributed to the generous faithful Mod-dhums and Pir-jenths of the day. The newly 'blessed corn', fresh from the first crop of the paddy season from the fields of the Konkani heartland was later distributed to the faithful of the parish.

The offertory procession saw a large number of benefactors from the Konkani community offering generously in kind with various groceries and useful items for distribution which eventually will be distributed by the poor of St Anthony members of the church to the poor and needy of the parish in due course.

The Konkani choir melodiously sang devotional Monthi Fest hymns dedicated to Mother Mary during the Holy Mass. Towards the end, Fr Darel thanked all in a nutshell, those who participated and organised the successful Monthi Fest celebrations this year. After the final blessing and hymn, cake and refreshments were served to all in the church courtyard along with the blessed 'Novena', as the faithful marched towards Our Lady of Arabia Hall for a brief Monthi Fest stage cultural programme and honouring the winners of the 7-a-side cricket festival held earlier at the Indian Club grounds.

The brief Konkani cultural programme at the OLA Hall began with the arrival of the chief guest bishop Aldo Berardi, SHC parish priest Fr Francis, other brother priests and reverend sisters. The stage programme was anchored by master of ceremonies, Eden Andria Fernandes, all expressive in her inimitable style and invited all the dignitaries to the stage for the stage felicitation and acknowledgment. Fr Darel welcomed the gathering and requested bishop Aldo Berardi to address the packed audience gathered at the OLA Hall for the programme. This was followed by a cake-cutting ceremony with the bishop giving the lead on stage and sharing with all bites of the cake on stage. Fr Ivan Pinto then addressed the audience with his brief Monthi Festh message thanking Fr Darel for inviting him to Bahrain for conducting the Monthi Fest Novenas and celebrations.

The winners and runners-up of the 7-a-side cricket ladies and gents Monthi Fest 2024 tournament held earlier were honoured and felicitated with larger-than-life trophies, certificates and their respective prizes by the bishop, parish priest and visiting priests. Reverend sisters of Sacred Heart Church Convent were privileged to honour the ladies cricket tournament winners.

The cultural programme began with a prayer song, a melodious Marian Konkani Medley sung harmoniously to the tune of music by kids from the vibrant Goan community.

Then followed the Mother’s dance by Loraine and Team. The 'Guloba dance' too was performed with beautiful props by children and caught the eyes of the audience, choreographed by Eunice D’Souza.

DJ Francis spun many discs throughout the programme and whenever needed to keep the audience entertained with Konkani songs and also to accompany with music to a few amateur singers that took to the stage to sing karaoke numbers much to the joy and merriment of all towards the end of the program.

The much-awaited Konkani comedy skit by comedian Stany D’Souza & team was the last in the Monthi Fest Agenda that rocked the stage with their unique half-hour comical rendition to the laughter and applause of the audience.

The attitude of gratitude, vote of thanks was the privilege of Sharmila D’Souza who spared no efforts in thanking all those who contributed and performed in one way or other for the success of the awesome Konkani Festh 2024 celebrations concluding with the cultural programme.

The programme concluded with the 'Noveim Jevann', a sumptuous vegetarian meal completes with pickle, pappad and Vornn catered to its every finesse by Dennis D’Sa of Mysore Restaurant fame served. And so, concluded another Monthi Fest programme organised by the Konkani Community of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with curtains closing with pleasant moments and memories of the programme to take home.

The core committee of Konkani community of SHC with its convenor Nelson Menezes gave the lead and encouragement to members, the faithful and their families, making it yet another eventful and memorable Monthi Fest celebration with traditional activities and performances. The Mud-dhoms and Pirjenths and well-wishers of the day who had contributed largely to the success of the Monthi Fest were also thanked.