Gerry D'Mello
Daijiworld Media Network - Canada
Canada, Sep 10: This year, the Konkani community in Mississauga and surrounding areas will celebrate Monthi Fest with Leo Cornelio, Archbishop of Bhopal, India of Kalyanpur/Mangalore origin, Lawrence John Saldanha, Archbishop Emeritus of Lahore of Mangalore origin and Henry D’Souza, Bishop of Bellary, India of Kinnigoli/Mangalore origin.
As informed by Fr Edwin D’Souza, the former Parish Priest of Saints Martha and Mary Church, Mississauga, Canada who is also the Spiritual Director of the Mangalorean Association of Canada (MAC), the Bishops have shown great interest in participating in the Monthi Fest celebration celebrated by the Konkani Community across the globe with pomp & glory. This will be an additional joy to the Konkani congregation in Canada who want to celebrate their dear Mother Mary’s birthday in a "Traditional way”!
Leo Cornelio SVD was born on March 14, 1945 in Kukkunje, near the coastal city of Udupi in Karnataka to Late Valerian Cornelio and Rose Cornelio. After completing his primary schooling in his native place, at the early age of thirteen he was recruited by a well known SVD German missionary, Fr Peter Verhalen, and was admitted to Rajeshwar Vidhyalaya, Mhow in Madhya Pradesh. There he continued his studies from 1958 to 1962. These four years of studies in Hindi medium, helped him to be conversant in the national language. Having made the Religious Profession on 11th June, he was ordained a priest in his native parish at Mount Rosary Church, Kallianpur on 14th November,1972 by the then Bishop of Mangalore, Bishop Basil S D'Souza. In June 1983 he travelled to Rome for a spiritual and theological course.
On his return to India in 1984, he was elected as Provincial Superior of the SVD Central Indian province with its headquarters in Indore. Three years later, in 1987, he was re-elected to the same position. Besides being well acquainted with several Indian languages and English he is also proficient in Italian, Spanish, French, German and Indonesian. Almost towards the fag end of his second term as General Councillor, Pope John Paul II appointed him as Bishop of Khandwa Diocese. As a dedicated shepherd, he promoted spiritual renewal in the diocese as well as the educational and social development apostolate to a great extent. In the year 2000, Pope John Paul II appointed him as a member of Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant People; and in 2006 he was reappointed by Pope Benedict XVI for a second term for the same. He is also the chairman of the CBCI Commission for Youth and Chairperson of the Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) as well as of YCS/YSM, both at the national and Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh level. Besides, he is a member of the CBCI Commission for Social Communications and also the financial administrator for the Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh Regional Major Seminaries at Bhopal and Ashta.
Lawrence John Saldanha was born in Mangalore, India on 12th June 1936. He had his priestly training at the Christ the King Seminary in Karachi and was ordained a priest in Lahore, Pakistan on Jan 16, 1960. He also earned a doctorate in Systematic Theology from Rome based Pontifical Urbaniana University. He participated in the Second Vatican Council. After serving in different parishes in Lahore FrSaldanha served as a Rector of Christ the King Seminary in Karachi from 1974-79. From 1986-98 he was head of the Social Communications Commission and WAVE Studio, the Church’s National Audiovisual Centre in Lahore. He also served as the President of the Federation of Asian Bishop’s Conference. Later as he was serving as an Associate Pastor of Precious Blood Church in Toronto, Canada he was recalled to serve the Church in Pakistan. On April 24, 2001 he was appointed Archbishop of Lahore by Pope John Paul II and he was great Sheppard for His flock until his retirement on April 07, 2011.
Henry D’Souza was born in Kinnigoli of Dakshina Kannada and ordained on May 5, 1976 as priest of Diocese of Mangalore. Bishop Henry D'Souza, the present Bishop of Bellary is the fourth Bishop of the Diocese. Pope Benedict XVI appointed Fr Henry D’Souza, the then Executive Secretary of the CBCI Commission for Social Communications, New Delhi, as Bishop of Bellary Diocese on March 15, 2008. Earlier, he served as the Secretary, Proclamation and Communication Commission of Karnataka Regional Bishops’ Council (1989-2000). He was the Founder Director of Sandesha Regional Institute of Communications (1989 –2000) and Director of Sandesha College of Fine Arts, Mangalore (1996-2000). Besides, he has been President of UNDA OCIC–India (Catholic Communicators’ Association), now Signis India (1986-1992) and Secretary, Signis - Asia (1989-1995). Bishop Henry D’Souza was consecrated Bishop of Bellary on June 12, 2008. Oswald Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop of Mumbai and President of CCBI, was the Chief Consecrator; Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore and Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza of Mangalore were the Co-Consecrators. Thirty four Archbishops and Bishops from different parts of India attended the historic event. Presently, Bishop D'Souza is serving as: Chairman CBCI Youth Commission, Chairman, CCBI Youth Commission, Member, CBCI Commission for Social Communications, Chairman, KRCBC Commission for Social Communications, Chairman, KRCBC Youth Commission, Apostolic Administrator of Shimoga Diocese since Oct. 15, 2012- Mar19,2014.
In addition, the renowned Konkani personality and the incumbent president of the Konkani Sahitya Academy Roy Castelino will the guest of honor. Roy Castelino is also the president of Konkani Prachar Sanchalan and former president of Rachana. He is a trustee of Sandesha Foundation, and director of Kalaangann apart from being executive member of Mandd Sobhan. He also heads Roy Constructions.
The Monthi Fest has a tremendous significance to the Catholic community residing in Canada, as it celebrates not only the birthday of the mother of Jesus Christ but also the new harvest. Through this solemn yet festive event, we demonstrate unity and solidarity in our Catholic faith, our rich ethnic heritage and work towards enriching our children’s understanding and love of Konkani Culture.
The Mangalorean Association of Canada (MAC) to whom this pioneer venture is attributed to, is organizing the event on Sunday, September 14, 2014 at the St. Maximilian Kolbe Church followed by a cultural program at John Paul II Polish Cultural Centre in Mississauga. Children are encouraged to bring flowers at 3.30 pm to offer to our Mother Mary and sweets will be distributed to the participants. A Konkani High Mass will be celebrated by over 10 priests including three Bishops. Renowned Konkani singers in Canada will join the angelic choir under the dynamic leadership of acclaimed musician Merlyn Rodrigues.
A power-packed cultural program has been organized to satisfy the clamoring demands of the community who soak up the traditional Konkani skit & songs. The grand component of the cultural program is a Spiritual Tableau called “Monthi Mayechem Ajjeap” (Miracle of our Blessed Virgin Mary) written by Konkani’s veteran writer Naveen Kulshekar and directed by renowned Konkani artiste Manohar Pais and enacted by the actor par-excellence Violet Pais, Laveena D’Souza and the renowned comedians of Santhu-Monthu fame Santosh D’Souza and Rony Monteiro followed by melodious singing in Konkani by the acclaimed Konkani singers in Canada comprising of Anita Prabhu, Sonia Monteiro, Lucy D’Mello, Manohar Pair, Wilson D’Souza & Linton Pinto.
Ronald Fernandes, the incumbent president of MAC, informed Daijiworld that the preparations are going on in full swing and that there will be a big turnout this year. An authentic sumptuous vegetarian Mangalorean dinner “Novem Jevonn” catered by Canada's one and only "Konkan Delite" will be served at the Monthi Fest.
Konkani World’s renowned compere Manohar Pais will be the emcee for this great event. Undoubtedly this will be a unique and memorable Konkani event for the Konkani Diaspora residing in Canada!