Doha: Konkani Community Celebrates Feast of St Francis Xavier With Gusto
by Alexis Castelino
Daijiworld Media Network—Doha (CN)
Doha, Dec 5: The feast of St Francis Xavier was celebrated grandly on Friday December 4 at the church of Our Lady of the Rosary, here.
It was held under the guidance of Fr Anand Castelino, the spiritual director of the Konkani community, and the Konkani Speaking Committee (KSC) having representatives from Goa and Mangalore.
Thousands of devotees gathered at the church for the Holy Mass in Konkani which was concelebrated by three priests - Fr Anand Castelino, Fr George Correa, and the main celebrant Fr Cipriano Dias, the visiting priest from Goa. Fr Dias, in his homily, preached on the theme ‘Bhagevont Fransisk Xavierache Dekhin, Kristi Totvank Sakxi Dium-ia’. The preaching was based on various themes during the nine days novena and was very much liked and appreciated by the community.
Earlier, on Thursday December 2, as a conclusion to the nine days novena, Besp was celebrated with a mass, followed by a procession with the statue of St Francis Xavier and its devotees around the church compound and concluded with novena.
The feast Pirginth was Doha Goan Sports Club. Novena sponsors, Murdoms and Pirginth were honoured with a blessed candle and this was conducted by Riana Pinto the secretary of KSC. Alvo Dias thanked all the Pirginth, sponsors, murdoms who contributed towards novenas and feast celebrations, the Mangalorean choir, Goan choir, youth and children’s choir groups, and food sponsors who cooked food daily and sold it during the novenas. Light refreshments and snacks were served to all gathered and this was followed by a cultural programme at the Seraphic Hall.
The stage function which followed had Fr Peter, the parish priest as the chief guest. The other dignitaries on stage were Fr Dias, Fr George Correa, Pirginth Doha Goan Sports Club President Ambrosio Dias, KSC President Veena Rebimbus Pais, and Fr Anand Castelino, the spiritual director of KSC.
Parish priest Fr Peter delivered his message at the beginning as he had to rush for his mass obligations. In his address Fr Castelino thanked the committee for organizing the event. He also thanked Fr Dias for his visit to Doha for this occasion and the wonderful sermons throughout the novenas. He appreciated the Pirginth, Mudthoms, sponsors, and all those who worked for this event as well as all the community for coming together to make it a successful occasion.
Alexis Castelino conducted the honoring ceremony and Fr Castelino felicitated Fr Dias and Pirginth with a memento and a shawl. Fr Dias addressed the gathering and thanked everyone for inviting him and giving him an opportunity to preach the nine days novenas and celebrate the feast with the Konkani speaking community in Qatar. Ambrosio Dias also addressed the gathering and expressed thanfulness for the opportunity to be the Pirginth. Visiting guest priest Fr George Correa from Brazil too appreciated and shared his feeling of being with his family and the community after so many years to celebrate the feast.
The programme was emceed by John Desa, cultural secretary, KSC. In between the programme, he conducted spot games with questions related to Goa and Mangalore which really tested the knowledge of those present. Riana Pinto, KSC secretary, proposed the vote of thanks. Bingo was conducted by Vivian D’Souza.
Delicious food was served by Pirginth Doha Goan Sports Club to all present and this was relished by all.
As a part of the celebrations, a quiz on bible and St Francis Xavier was conducted earlier. Winners of the quiz were:
Age Group 8 to 16 years: 1st Place-Gishal Cordiero, 2nd Place-Arvin Pais and 3rd Place -Caine Logan Cardoza.
Age Group 17 to 25 years: 1st Place-Maria Felcia D'Silva
Age Group of above 25 years: 1st Place-Lance Moniz, 2nd Place-Adriel Moniz
Prizes were distributed to the winners by Fr Dias.