The newly formed executive committee of the Mangalorean Catholic Centre of the Parish (MCCP – Sts Peter and Paul Church, Ruwi) ushered in its 27th year of existence in great style and pomp setting the tone for the rest of the year. The 27th year Inaugural day was also the occasion for installing of the new executive committee for the year 2018-19.

The new president of MCCP Ajith Rajesh Walder and his team beautifully presented their vision of the 27th year of MCCP in their maiden programme titled ‘MCCP Inaugural Programme 2018’ with high priority for entertainment. The event was marked as a truly remarkable one, with the new executive committee announcing that the year will be introducing numerous new events to unite the Mangalureans in Oman through programmes in sports, cultural and academic streams.

The much awaited day commenced with the Eucharistic celebration in Konkani at 11 am celebrated by Fr Marian Miranda (Spiritual Director of the Konkani Community) and visiting guest priest Fr Joaquim D’Souza. The melodious choir led by well-known choir master Apolinaris D’Souza made the celebration all the more meaningful and beautiful.

The packed house was treated to a delicious breakfast followed by cultural extravaganza at the Ruwi parish hall, which was beautifully decorated by Lancy Lobo and his team. The vibrant executive team for the 27th year had worked meticulously to put up the cultural extravaganza. The record breaking attendance of over 600 audience reflected the hard work of the executive committee in bringing the community together.

The programme commenced with the traditional rendition of Parameshwara – the welcome song by Apolanaris D’Souza and the choir group consisting Anitha Shalini Danthi, Wilma Peris, Flavia Castelino, Anitha Lobo, Valerian Peris, Freeda Suares, Loveline Rego, Stany Menezes, Eizabeth Noronha, Reena D’Souza, and Amanda Lobo, supported by musician Ashwitha Aranha. Guest priest Fr Joaquim D’Souza offered a prayer for the continuing growth of MCCP and emphasized on the theme of the year ‘Sacrifice is our Resolution, Service is our Motto’ and urged the team to work in true spirit and associate sacrifice and service in all their events planned for the year.

Dilip Correa, a well-known face of the Konkani Community took center-stage as the master of ceremony. He called upon the new president of MCCP Ajith Rajesh Walder on stage highlighting his impressive background and various achievements. The guests of honor the Ligoury D’Mello couple, were invited on stage along with Fr Marian Miranda and Fr Joaquim D’Souza. This was followed by each member of the new committee being individually introduced and called on the stage amidst thunderous applauses from the crowd.

Ajith Walder, in his presidential address emphasized that the new committee under his able leadership will strive towards uniting the community while maintaining the tradition of the Konkan community upheld by MCCP over the years. The symbolic lighting of lamp shaped in the form of ‘27’ added to the novelty of the inaugural ceremony followed by unveiling of the logo and theme for the year ‘Samarpan Amchem Sankalp, Seva Amso Dhyey’ (Sacrifice is our Resolution, Service is our Motto). The winner of the logo competition Vijay D’Cunha was felicitated by the president with a memento and cash gift.

To encourage budding talents, kids as well as elders were actively involved throughout the cultural events of the day.

After the formal session of inaugural programme, ‘The Desi Vibes’ presented an electrifying thunderous hip hop Bollywood free style dance for an Indian song number which shook the stage. The dancers were Christine Angelin Danthi, Glen Alexei Menezes, Lael Alva, Leanne Alva, Lanette Rego, Laurette Rego, Lovette Rego and Renessa Walder (sponsored by Ajith D’Costa and family, Cyril Danthi and family), choreographed by Dynet Fernandes.

A community organization such as the MCCP cannot grow and thrive well if not for the generous contribution and patronage of the sponsors. On this occasion, all the sponsors were duly felicitated by the President with a floral bouquet and a grateful heart. The event was conducted by Flavia D’souza, vice-president – cultural, spiritual and community services.

The day was a perfect combination of humor and tapping dance numbers. A hilarious skit ‘Horbos’ was presented by Kushali Muscat, directed by Lancy Lobo and enacted by Lancy, Alwin, Reema with music support by DJ Loveline and back stage support- Sunil (sponsored by Sunil Furtado and family).

A foot-tapping Bollyfolk dance by ‘Sparkling Dance Crew’ consisting Anisha D’Costa, Siona Saldanha, Ashwitha Coutinho, Delishya D’Souza and Tanya Saldanha choreographed by Priyanka Edna Mendonca added to the vibes (sponsored by Edward Mendonca and family).

Before the audience dispersed for a sumptuous lunch with traditional Mangalurean cuisine, Fr Marian addressed the gathering and offered grace before meals. Master Lael Alva dressed up as a Gurkar invited the gathering for lunch with a traditional ‘Jevnak Udak’. The delicious lunch was served by Mughal Darbar and pork was home-cooked by Ignatius Lobo and family.

A high quality entertainment continued to flow unceasingly post-lunch. The crowd laughed their stomach out with a comedy skit ‘Piko Ponos’ directed by Rolson Cardoza, enacted by young actors Pranitha Monteiro, Joel D’Almedia, Stephen Monteiro and Rolson Cardoza (sponsored by Richard Olvin D’Souza).

Yet another comedy skit directed by Lancy Lobo ‘Pisant’ was presented by the Kushali Muscat team Lancy, Deepak, Alwin, Reema with music support by DJ Loveline and back stage support from Sunil keeping the audience enthralled (sponsored by Ajith D’Costa and family).

MCCP, on this occasion, was glad to honor the meritorious students of the community who have excelled in class X and XII examinations for the year 2017-18 with the Certificates of Excellence. The awards were conferred by president Ajith Walder and vice-president Roshan Tellis. The ceremony was conducted by Melita Alva, general secretary.

The recipients of the awards for Class X were Janice Amelia Sequeira, Ryan D’Souza, Lester Monis, Neil Antony Castelino, Ashwitha Leeta Aranha and Megan Erica D’Souza.

Class XII certificates of Excellence were awarded to Franstan D’souza, Michelle Siona Gonsalves, Shaun Darran D’Souza, Viyola Caroline D’Costa, Dale Dantis, Vihan Jovin Pereira, Andrea Caron Noronha and Jeevitha Saldanha.

This was followed by a lovely dance ‘Hanv Konkani Monis’ by the tiny tots Aman D’Costa, Calida Machado, Daisha D’Souza, Laisha D’Souza, Reia Correa, Rochelle Correa, Shawin D’Souza and Shima Mascarenhas choreographed by the multi-talented Deepak D’souza (sponsored by Richard Olvin D’Souza).

To aptly sum up the theme of the year, a morally awakening drama was presented by Sam Menezes, Rinet Menezes, Walter Mendonca, Flavia D’Souza, Vikas Fernandes, Peter Fernandes, Thomas D’Souza, Helen Sequiera, Edward Mendonca and Aslita D’Souza directed by ace director and actor Walter Mendonca (sponsored by Richard Olvin D’souza).

MCCP is always supportive of upcoming and budding artists of the community. A trailer of the upcoming movie ‘Love Game’ directed by Rolson Cardoza and enacted by various Konkani talents residing in Muscat was presented on the occasion. The film is slated to release in December this year.

Ashok Kiran Pinto, honorary treasurer, rendered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all those who have worked tirelessly to make this event a grand success.

Finally, the highlight of the day, the ‘Bonanza Draw’ was conducted by Roshan Tellis, Flavia, Ajith D’Costa and Denzil Sequeira. The winners walked away with high value prizes such as gold coin, LED TV, air tickets and many more.

The winners of the bonanza draw are:

The entire event was covered by a powerpoint presentation compiled by Dean D’Souza. Talentz provided the sound system. DJ Loveline Rego kept the crowd on their feet with rocking numbers. A large number of dedicated volunteers worked tirelessly in the background to make the event outstanding and impressive one.

Overall, it was a memorable day for the Mangalurean Catholic community in Muscat, who witnessed a well-coordinated event with high entertainment value purely drawn from the talent of the existing members and would be looking forward to more such events during the year.

The sponsors and event supporters:

Platinum sponsor: Muscat Golden Services LLC – Raphael D’Souza

Gold sponsors: Technofit Trading LLC (Liguory and Margaret D’Mello), Hydrotec International LLC (Cliford Sanctis),

Silver sponsors: National Finance Company SAOG (Robert Pancras – courtesy Francis Pinto), Zahrat Al Rawdha Trading (Raphael Quadros)

Bronze sponsors: AREEJ Vegetable Oils & Derivatives SAOC – Ophelia lazarus, Prestige Projects and Engineering Supplies Co LLC (Denis Mascarenhas), Marmul Hospitality Group – Mebal Pinto (GM); courtesy Vijay D’cunha, Sky United Logistics – Dilip Correa, Wilber D’Souza and family.

Support sponsors: Lawarence Alva, Wadi Sarooj Trading (Shankar Shetty ) – courtesy Roshan Tellis, Multitech LLC – Courtesy – Monica Dantis

Event/Bonanza sponsors: Sea Pearls LLC, Jet airways, Harminder Singh & Family, Gautam Trading, Al Sharaqy Trading, Samsara restaurant

Event Supporters: Loveline Rego – DJ, Dilip Correa – MC, Jochim D’Souza- Photographer, Vijay D’Cunha – Support on Online registration/website, Apolinaris D’Souza- Choir Master, Dean D’Souza – Power point, Ramesh – Orbit Events Management.