Gerry D'Mello
Daijiworld Media Network - Canada

Canada, Sep 19: Monthi Fest or the Nativity of our Lady elicits a magical effect on the psyche of the Konkani Catholics around the globe. It evokes a flood of fond nostalgic memories in their minds of sugarcane, sticky candy, borrowing flowers from the neighborhood, delicious meals from freshly harvested vegetables and so on. Through the years, many lovely customs and folk traditions have evolved around this feast such as the blessing of the new corn, showering of flowers to Infant Mary, consuming the grains of the new harvest in a cup of milk or sweet 'Vorn', and eating a variety of vegetarian dishes at the festive meal. This heartwarming harvest feast celebrates and culminates the hard work of the Konkan farmers with to the birthday of dear Mother Mary.

The Mangalorean Association of Canada (MAC) which comprises of the Konkani Catholic community of Greater Toronto celebrated the “Monthi Fest” on Sunday, 13th September 2015 with devotion and splendor at St Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Mississauga. Parents and children assembled in the evening at Pope John Paul II hall to honor the Infant Mary. The program commenced with a welcome note by Gerry D’Mello who assumed the leadership for the processional arrangements. A solemn procession of tiny tots and little children carrying plates of flowers entered the hall and they eagerly placed flowers in honor of Mother Mary to the great tune of “sokkod sangatha mellyam” and “Moriyek Hogolsiyan”.

Lancy John Rodrigues, the Spiritual Coordinator of MAC led the novena prayers. Fr Edwin D’Souza, the spiritual director of MAC conducted the ceremony of blessing the “Bambino” (the statue of Infant Mary), new sheaves of grain, Muddhom Candles and the Rosaries. The community gathered there were thrilled to see this display of enthusiasm and devotion not only from the adults but from the children as well.

The High Mass in Konkani was concelebrated at St Maximilian Kolbe church by Rev. Fr Edwin D’Souza, Fr Rudolph Pinto and Deacon Sarfaraz Pinto. The church reverberated with the voices of the faithful and the magnificence and significance of the feast was evident in the huge crowd gathered. The altar decorations, the altar servers and the festive ambience of the church were really soul-elevating and added to the solemnity of the event. The walls of the church resonated with the mellifluous singing of the Konkani choir conducted by Merlyn Rodrigues. The homily delivered by Fr Rudolph Pinto on true peace was very enlightening and thought provoking. Overall, the whole atmosphere was so devotional and captivating that the congregation felt that they were attending a Eucharistic celebration back home in their native towns and villages. During the Holy Mass Fr Edwin presented “Muddhom Candles” to the sponsors who generously supported the event.

After the Mass there was the distribution of the blessed new-corn and rosaries to all the families of the Eucharistic celebration. The children received chocolate treats in lieu of the traditional sugarcane.

The cultural program commenced at Pope John Paul II hall with a hearty welcome that was extended to an overwhelmingly full hall by the emcee, Manohar Pais. With his charming and inimitable style, Manohar built a rapport with the audience. He invited Nicole D’Mello and Jolene Lewis the budding young emcees to the dais to conduct the rest of the cultural events. Maxim D’Mello, the dynamic President of MAC, welcomed the audience to the celebration of the Monthi Fest and the cultural program. He thanked the clergy, sponsors, volunteers and guests for their selfless sacrifices, time and energy. Seneca Rego, a budding Bharatanatyam artiste in Canada, gave an awe-inspiring dance performance to the tune of a Konkani hymn.

The highlight of the program was a Konkani skit “Sonthosache Misther” (The Joyful Mysteries) written and directed by renowned Konkani artiste Manohar Pais and enacted by the actors par-excellence Ronald D’Souza, Loveena D’Souza, Pressy D’Cunha, Seneca Rego, Ronald Monteiro, Wilson D’Souza, Maxim D’Mello, Cyril Pinto & Gerry D’Mello. Each actor is to be commended for their unique accomplishment as the skit was a resounding success and appreciated by all. Mangalorean Star Ken Monteiro played the sequence music. Sonia Monteiro’s melodious singing was like the icing on the cake!

The creative stage setting done by Janet D’Souza, Louella Cardoza & Rony D’Souza was highly commendable.

As part of the MAC mandate to promote and encourage youth in the field of education, the UAE Exchange Scholarship of $500 was awarded to Lawrentina D’Souza and Regi-Mary Scholarship of $250 was awarded to Marnita D’Souza by Reginald & Mary Fernandes. The scholarship award ceremony was led by Janet D’Souza, the vibrant Mangalorean personality in Canada. The next segment of the program was a music session performed by the youth of the MAC community and organized by Sonia Monteiro. The lineup was as follows:

- Konkani Instrumental Hymn Honouring Our Mother Mary – ‘Tu Kalzacha Ghondya Mujhya’ by Nitin Crasta, Ken Monteiro, Mervin Moras, Shaun Aranha and Philip Daan
- English Solo Song – ‘Don’t Know Why’ by Debbie Pais
- English Group Song – ‘We Are The World’ by Lillian Lobo, Debbie Pais, Nishita D’Mello and Nerissa D’Mello
- English Instrumental Song – ‘Let’s Twist Again’ by Shaun Aranha, Jen Monteiro, Nitin Crasta, Mervin Moras and Philip Daan
- Konkani Duet Song – ‘Tu Sopnanth Yethai’ by Ken Monteiro and Shaun Aranha
- English Group song – ‘Hotel California’ by Mervin Moras, Shaun Aranha, Philip Daan & Ken Monteiro.

It was very much appreciated by the audience that prominence was given to the youth for this program. This is just the beginning of MAC’s objective of creating a platform for the next generation.

The entertainment for the night concluded with a Cultural Group Dance to the tune of ‘Dorya Kushin Fud Korun’. This item was performed by Shona Coelho, Violet Pais, Nikhil Pereira, Nisha Pereira, Lydwin Lobo, Gerry D’Mello, Maxim D’Mello, Sunita D’Souza, Kevin Moras, Sunita Aranha, and Sonia Monteiro, and choreographed by the Toronto’s renowned Choreographer Carol Lobo. Packed from start to finish, this event was indeed a thrilling success.

The generous sponsors who supported this memorable event were:

UAE Exchange
Reginald & Mary Fernandes
Ronald Rego (Rego International)
Edmund Pereira (Real Estate Broker)
Wilson D'Souza (CIBC Mortgage Specialist)
Maxim D'Mello (Lyoness Shopping Network)
Francis Aranha (Remax Real Estate)
Frank Serrao (Dixie Toyota)
Flavian Pinto (Sunlife Insurance)
Loy D'Souza (Konkan delite)
Ravi Fernandes (Trinity Auto & Tire Centre)
Olivia Moras (Century 21 Real Estate)
Manohar & Violet Pais
Ronald Mathias (Real Estate Broker)
Francis Fernandes Cascia
Vijay Dante (Udupi Madras Café)
Max Pinto (Co-operators Insurance)
Jasmine Noronha (Real Estate Broker)
Reynold Sequeira (Remax Real Estate)
Ronald & Clara Fernandes
Roshan D'Souza (Scotiabank Mortgage specialist)

Konkan Delite catered a traditional all-vegetarian meal with the highlight of the meal being the delicious “Pothrade” and the traditional dessert, ‘Vorn’. The guests commended the quality and taste of the authentic meal. Raffle prizes were announced and the evening ended with ‘Laudate’ sung by the acclaimed Konkani singers in Canada. Leon Lobo & Maxim D’Mello are to be commended for organizing an outstanding presentation in appreciation of sponsors, the clergy and including key points of the events. Konkani’s ‘Ace’ Manohar Pais, the Cultural Coordinator, ensured that the program ran smoothly and was seamless. Kudos to rest of the EC members: Paul Mathias, Ronald D'Souza, Prescilla D'Souza, Reginald Fernandes, Reynold Sequeira, Olivia Moras, Leo D'Cunha, Joel Lewis, Cynthie Fernandes and Lancy Rodrigues for all their hard-work & dedication. A BIG salute to all the sponsors, members and the volunteers who worked diligently and tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the astounding success of the Monthi Fest 2015!