Media Release

Toronto, Sep 15: COVID-19 has caused so many changes in 2020. Many of us are confined to the four walls of our homes and yet working to earn our bread. Children have not seen their classrooms for a good six months. Day to day activities have been modified to accommodate this little invisible virus. And yet we soldier on, hoping, praying, storming the heavens with petitions for a better and sunny tomorrow.

Konkan organization of Toronto (KOT) celebrated a eucharistic mass on account of Monthi Feast. This year the celebration was restricted to the celebration of the holy eucharist at St Joseph parish on September 12.

The attendees were limited to 80 members in keeping with the guidelines laid down by Toronto Public Health. The president of KOT, Melwin Lobo welcomed the gathering. The celebrant was Fr Roshan D’Souza and the lector was Anthony Castelino. Hilda led the prayers of the faithful and invoked the Lord's blessing on the COVID-ridden world.

In a very meaningful homily, Fr Roshan stressed on the need to remain with the Lord and to not lose hope in these trying times. He gave various examples to demonstrate the power of God in the lowest of life. He urged the faithful to stay focused in their faith. Carmin Castelino and Myra D’Souza led the choir with Melwyn Sequeira on the keyboard lending a musical touch to the celebration.

Although the showering of flowers by the little children was not observed, a more subdued version included every family offering a flower to Mother Mary. Fr Roshan D’Souza blessed the new corn which was then distributed among the faithful as a symbol of the new harvest which is also celebrated with the Nativity of our Lady. The executive committee members of KOT Claudia Lobo, Linnette Martis, Natasha Fernandes and Dorothy Pinto ushered the faithful into the church.