News: Melita Sheela Alva
Pics: Joachim D’Souza

Muscat, May 21: Mangalorean Catholic Centre for Parish (MCCP – Sts Peter and Paul Church, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman) celebrated its 27th Annual Day with great zeal, enthusiasm, vibrancy and with colorful events at the Parish Hall. The day also marked the ushering in of the new executive committee of MCCP for the year 2019-2020 led by Jessie Vivian Pereira. The mantle has been handed over to her by the current president Ajith Rajesh Walder.

Jessie Pereira, an active member of MCCP and various parish communities is a native of Paladka, Moodbidri. Besides being passionate about sports such throw ball, volleyball, badminton and cricket, she is actively associated with community service and social activities in Oman since many years. She is married to Vivian Pereira and blessed with two children, Venetia and Vihaan Pereira.

Jessie Pereira

Annual day is the time to wrap up all that is done in the year. A year that is about to end and a new one that is about to begin. The much awaited day commenced with the Eucharistic celebration in Konkani at 9 am celebrated by Fr Albert Lewis in the main parish hall of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Ruwi. The melodious choir led by well-known choir master Apolinaris D’Souza made the celebration all the more meaningful and beautiful.

The cultural programme commenced in the hall immediately after breakfast. The traditional anthem of MCCP ‘Parameshwara’ marked the beginning of the day. Fr Albert offered a prayer for the unceasing growth of MCCP and in particular for the success of the day’s event.

Clarence Pinto, a renowned persona of the Konkani Community took center-stage as the master of ceremony. President Ajith Walder delivered the welcome address and honored Fr Albert. This was followed by the presentation of annual report by general secretary Melita Sheela Alva highlighting the various activities and noble charitable work done and treasurer’s report by Ashok Kiran Pinto stating the financial business of the organisation.

MCCP executive committee team expressed gratitude to all sponsors for their support for making the year 2018-19, a resounding success and felicitated the sponsors for their unceasing support and contributions.

MCCP is known for promoting the talent and potential of its members in the Sultanate. On this occasion, two CDs of musical composition and hymns ‘Mai Gaanwa’ and ‘Tujea Vinnyak’ by Apolinaris D’Souza fondly known as ‘Konkan Kuliyecho Rai Kunwar’ were released by Fr Albert and Ajith Walder.

Two budding talents were awarded for their ‘Outstanding Achievements’ during this occasion. Lael Alva, an avid quizzer, a brilliant student of Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir felicitated for winning the ‘First ever IS Quiz’ at the recently held mega quizzing event of the Indian Schools in Oman. Multitalented Megana Erica Dsouza who was recently elected as ‘Head Girl’ of the Indian School Muscat, the first Mangalurean child in history to win such a coveted position, also felicitated during the occasion.

This was followed by felicitation of executive committee 2018-19 members with a memento and words of appreciation by president Ajith Walder for the selfless service and dedication towards making this year a resounding success. He commended the executive team for its incredible job in carrying on the good work by stimulating and retaining the culture and unity for building a stronger community.

New executive committee members for 2019-20 were elected under the aegis of the core committee of the MCCP, which followed by a formal taking on the mantle of MCCP by the new executive committee members through a symbolic gesture by handing over of a floral bouquet by the respective counter parts in the outgoing committee.

Executive committee members for the year 2019 – 2020 are:

Executive committee members for the year 2019 – 2020 are:

	Position	Name
	President	Jessie Vivian Pereira
	Vice President( Sports and Finance)	Monica Fernandes
	Vice President ( Cultural, Spiritual,CS)	Vinod Terence D’Souza
	General Secretary	Silvia Dias
	Honorary Treasurer	Tressy Victoria Menezes
	Internal Auditor	Sharon Alva
	Sports Secretary	Reshma D’Costa
	Cultural Secretary	Praveen Donald Serra
	Spiritual Secretary	Vikas Marshal Fernandes
10.	Community Services Secretary	Merita Pinto

The outgoing president Ajith Walder handed over a bouquet to the new president Jessie Pereira and wished her all the very best assuring full support from his team and himself. In reply, Jessie Pereira said that while her team would continue to maintain traditions of MCCP, they would also try to infuse freshness and new ideas with the support of all the MCCP members and benefactors.

Before the audience dispersed for a sumptuous lunch with traditional Mangalurean cuisine, Rochelle Tellis offered grace before meals.

Post-lunch, it was an event where everyone had a reason to cheer. Spectacular performers ‘Sangon Mugdana Kalakar’, a brilliant troupe lead by Pradeep Barboza provided a 8th show of comedy drama ‘Vecho gi Ranvcho’, displayed their great talent through their frequent punches, flawless impeccable talent and the humor that flowed effortlessly keeping the audience glued to their seats with non-stop laughter for three hours.

All the actors who are superbly lead by Comedy Prince Pradeep Barboza Paladka together with Melwyn D Almeida Valencia (Mellu of Memori fame), Godwin Castelino Attur, Royston Kiran D Souza Balkunje, Helvin Barboza Kulur, Laveena Fernandes Pangala, Venicia Rodrigues Alangar, Paul D Souza Paladka, Vernon D Souza Mangalore and, Nanu Marol Thottam provided great entertainment to the audience. Entire drama was coordinated by Diany D’Souza, Pamboor and music provided by Rohan Lobo, Kalakul. The icing on the cake was the fabulous dance by Laveena Fernandes Pangala which mesmerized the audience with her homely character suddenly turning to a super dancer.

Towards the end, the entire team of actors, coordinator and musician were presented with mementos and Pradeep Barboza was felicitated with shawl and fruit basket and a memento. Pradeep expressed gratitude on this gesture and thanked the patrons of Konkani talent for their support and encouragement. He also mentioned that a Konkani comedy TV series will be released shortly on Daiji TV.

Roshan Praveen Tellis, vice-president, rendered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all those who have worked tirelessly to make this event a grand success.

The entire event was covered by a PowerPoint presentation compiled by Lael and Leanne Alva, Talentz provided the sound system and music. Hall decoration was done by Lancy Lobo and team. A large number of dedicated volunteers worked tirelessly in the background to make the event a success.

Overall, it was a memorable day for the Mangalurean Catholic community in Muscat. The audience left happy and enthralled with high energy entertainment and a grand closure for the year 2018-19.

The sponsors and event supporters are: Gold Sponsor: 1. Technofit Trading LLC (Liguory and Margaret D’Mello), Silver Sponsor 2, Muscat Golden Services LLC – Raphael D’souza, 3. National Finance Company SAOG (Robert Pancras – courtesy Francis Pinto), Bronze sponsors, 4. Zahrat Al Rawdha Trading (Raphael Quadros),5, AREEJ Vegetable Oils & Derivatives SAOC – (Courtesy -Ophelia lazarus),6. Prestige Projects and Engineering Supplies Co LLC (Denis Mascarenhas),7.Marmul Hospitality Group Vijay D’cunha – AGM Finance, 8. Sky United Logistics – Dilip Correa,9.Special Technical Services LLC – Ganesh Shetty -COO (Courtesy Roshan Tellis),10. Al Khalili Constructions LLC (Courtesy – Ajith Dcosta )

Support Sponsors: 11.Towell Building materials – Cypriyan Misquith – (Courtesy Ashok Pinto), 12.Suleyum Al Kiyumi Trading LLC – (Courtesy Loveline Rego), 13. Lawarence Alva,14. Wadi Sarooj Trading (Shankar Shetty ) – (Courtesy Roshan Tellis), 15. Multitech LLC – (Courtesy Monica Dantis),16.Hydrotec International LLC (Clifford Sanctis), 17.Wilber D’souza & Family, 18.Dolphy Frank & Family,19.Randolph Mendonca & Family, 20.Mactech Building Materials LLC – (Courtesy Roshan Tellis).

Event Supporters: 1 Loveline Rego – DJ, 2 Clarence Pinto – MC, 3 Jochim Dsouza- Photographer, 4 Vijay Dcunha – Support on online registration/website,5 Apolinaris Dsouza- Choir Master,6 Dean Dsouza – Backdrop for entire year,7 Helen Lobo – Spiritual day support,8 Sharon Alva – Volunteer, 9 Rolson Cardoza – Videography.