Canada: MAC Celebrates Monti Fest with Festive Enthusiasm
From Ronald D'Souza
Canada, Sep 15: The Mangalorean Association of Canada (MAC) in association with Canara World Foundation Inc (CWF) celebrated the birth of our Virgin Mary and the harvest festival with sincere devotion and a quiet splendour in the midst of 450 devoted Catholics at St Maximilian Kolbe Parish, Mississauga here.
Young children with their bowls of beautiful flowers placed flowers in honour of Mother Mary to the accompaniment of ‘Sokkad Sangatha Melyan’ and ‘Moriyek Hogolsiyan’. The novena was conducted by Gerry D’Mello. The Konkani mass was celebrated by Fr Edwin D’Souza, pastor of Sts Martha and Mary Church, Fr Henry Alva, Fr Andrew Lewis, Fr Richard Lobo and deacon Sarfaraz Pinto.
Fr Edwin D’Souza paid tribute to Deacon Sarfaraz Pinto commending him for his good works. The melodious choir conducted by Merlyn Rodrigues accentuated the service. The Monti Fest service was made memorable with the honour guard led by the Knights of Columbus.
The master of ceremony for the evening, Gerry D’Mello commenced the programme with his welcome and announcements and introduced Maxim D’Mello, the president of MAC.
Maxim D’Mello gave salutation to Mandd Sobhann gurkar Eric Ozario who was visiting from Mangalore. Mandd Sobhann president Louie Pinto, also on his maiden visit to Canada was fervently welcomed by the president of CWF, Maxim Mendes. Both Eric Ozario and Louie Pinto made the tremendous journey to Canada to present a “Vovllik” or curtain raiser to the Konkani community at the Monti Fest for the First World Konkani Cultural Convention to be held in Mangalore.
True to its mandate, MAC continued with the Konkani classes this summer and a grand total of four students, Lawrentina and Clementina D’Souza, Nishant D’Mello and Cassandra D’Cunha graduated with high honours. They were awarded certificates in appreciation and Lawrentina D’Souza vocalized her experience in the Konkani language.
This was followed by the awarding of the “MAC Scholarship” for the academic year 2010-2011 to a highly deserving first time entrant to university. The recipient of the prestigious scholarship was Nicole D’Mello, an outstanding student, competitive sportsperson and a dedicated volunteer worker. Conducted by Janet D’Souza, the scholarship was awarded by Gurpreet Singh Bedi, head business development and operations, UAE Exchange Canada Inc. The $500 scholarship was generously sponsored by UAE Exchange Canada Inc. Reginald and Mary Fernandes, EC member and ardent MAC supporters pledged their sponsorship with a $250 scholarship award.
The Novemn ceremony, the traditional drinking of milk with the new grain was conducted by the MC with the dignitaries, clergy and guests participating enthusiastically. The sponsors were applauded for their spirit of giving and a blessed candle was given to each in appreciation for their kindness and support. Grace was conducted and dinner was announced. Konkan Delite catered a traditional all-vegetarian meal with the highlight of the meal being the delicious “Pathrode” and the sumptuous dessert, ‘Vorn’.
Dinner was followed by a scintillating cultural programme, compered by Leo Rego and Ronald Monteiro with a myriad of talented people dancing, singing and acting. There were traditional Indian dances, Bollywood mania with some very popular English songs providing entertainment to the guests. The mini skits and jokes were entertaining and well received by the audience. Eric Ozario performed along with the talented local artistes and provided them with the encouragement and impetus necessary to continue the use of our mother tongue, Konkani and keep it alive for generations to come. Our local artistes chose a number of songs composed by Eric Ozario and performed in accompaniment to them. The DJ, John Sylvan provided pulsating music and ensured that the evening was vibrant.
Sponsors of the fest were UAE Exchange Canada Inc., Ronald and Dorothy Rego, Frank and Clara Serrao, Reginald and Mary Fernandes, Doris Saldanha, Oswald Saldanha, Fr. Muller’s Charitable Foundation, Peter D’Souza, Ronald Fernandes, Edmund Pereira, Maxim D’Mello, Maxim Mendes, Ravi Fernandes, Wilson D’Souza, Jacinto DeSouza, Flavian Pinto, Kevin D’Souza, Vijay Dante and Martin Menezes.
About Nativity
The feast of the Nativity of Mother Mary represents a new life, a new presence and brings innumerable favours. September 8 is also celebrated as a thanksgiving harvest festival in Mangalore wherein parishes bless the newly harvested grain and distribute it to parishioners. The blessed grain is added to milk and drunk before a festive vegetarian meal symbolizing partaking of new harvest.