News: Stany D'Souza
Chicago, Dec 17: The Mangalorean Konkan Christian Association (MKCA) celebrated its 20th annual Christmas celebration, popularly known as Natal Fest, at St Hubert’s Church Hall, Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The celebration marked the birth of Jesus Christ, a day observed by Christians worldwide on December 25.
The event began with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist attended by MKCA members and guests. The first and second readings were read by MKCA members Dominick Carrabotta and Savio Pais.
The cultural programme commenced with a welcome note by MKCA president Leonard Lobo Shenoy. In his address, he presented the agenda of the programme, explained the significance of Kuswar and shared insights into Christmas traditions followed in Mangalorean households. He thanked the members and guests for their support in making the annual programmes a success and expressed gratitude to parish priest Fr Tom Abraham for providing the venue. He also invited suggestions to improve future events and acknowledged the efforts of the organising committee.
The event was compered by MKCA secretary Savio Pais, who warmly welcomed the audience and invited them to enjoy the traditional appetizers. Several group activities were conducted for children, couples, and adults. Children enthusiastically participated in the activities, while adults joyfully relived their younger days.
Christmas carols were sung by the members, adding to the festive spirit. The grand entry of Santa Claus, played by Austin Prabhu, delighted the young children as he distributed gifts and entertained the audience. Guests eagerly posed for photos with Santa, creating cherished memories.
Savio Pais expressed gratitude to the organising committee for their relentless support in ensuring the event's success. He also acknowledged the contributions of members who prepared the traditional Christmas Kuswar under the leadership of vice president Charel Alsamurrai.
The evening concluded with a sumptuous ethnic dinner. Under the DJing of Queenie Mendonca, the audience danced to the tunes of Konkani, Hindi, Kannada, and Spanish songs, bringing the joyous celebration to a lively close.