News: Norbert Cutinho

Pics: Shruthi, Gavin & Jo John

Vancouver, Sep 15: It was the 16th year of celebration of Monthi Fest in Vancouver attended by large number of afaithful at St Mary’s Church, Vancouver, as compared to the year 2023.

As many as eight Mangalurean priests attended the celebration. The crowd gathered in front of the church and around a table beautifully decorated with Infant Mary’s icon and Noven (new grains, which was arranged by Fr John Pinto). The Infant Mary’s Icon was arranged for this occasion by Gaulbert and Ida Cordeiro. Fr Vincent D’Souza blessed the noven with a short prayer. The beautifully dressed children showered flowers as the faithful sang in devotion ‘Moriek Hogollsian’. They went in procession singing ‘Sokkad sangatha mellyam’ to the church and placed flowers at the altar, thereafter.

The main celebrant of the Mass was Fr Ronald Sequeira and concelebrated by Fr John Pinto, Fr Joseph D’Souza, Fr Stephen Lobo, Fr Vincent D’Souza, Fr Claude Saldanha, Fr Jeevan D’Almeida and Fr Mario Fernandes.

In his heart touching homily, Fr Stephen emphasized the significance of this feast saying, “It is a family feast and we celebrate today the feast of 3 mothers i.e., Mother Mary, Mother India and Mother of each one of us. We celebrate the feast of heavenly family, parish family, our family and the new harvest (noven). It displays our Mangalurean origin, identity and family solidarity.”

The Mass was celebrated in Konkani and the choir led by Jason and Fabina, sang devotional Konkani hymns. At the end of the mass, Fr John Pinto thanked all, especially Fr Joseph D’Souza for facilitating the celebration in St Mary’s Church and hall.

It was a wondrful feeling to walk from the church to the basement hall, beautifully decorated with tables in blue and white. They drank noven after a prayer by 10 priests who attended the dinner at the hall. The priests also cut a birthday cake for Mother Mary. The evening was so entertaining with a hilarious skit by Gladys and Clotilda, a dance by the kids Kiara and Laenisha, a song by Karys, a kid’s game, a game of housie-housie and music. The MC, Lance Monteiro, made the evening more enjoyable.

In appreciation and gratitude, Fr John Pinto distributed celebration mementos to all who cooked delicious Mangalurean food.

The community and family spirit were at full display as this feast was made possible by so many volunteers working tirelessly cooking food, choir, skit, singing, decorating the hall, arranging the music, serving food, clean-up after the celebration and the financial support.