News: Vijai D’Cunha [G-kere]
Pics: Joachim D’Souza
Muscat, Feb 16: Mangalorean Catholic Centre of the Parish (MCCP – Sts Peter and Paul Church, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman) in its endeavor to bring all Mangalureans come together as a family but also to explore and cherish our awesome heritage, culture and beliefs, blew the trumpets with scintillating programme ‘29th Annual Day’ that was held on February 10, with great zeal, enthusiasm, vibrancy and with colourful events at the parish hall.
The 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 celebrated by Fr Stephen Lewis and Fr Marian Miranda in the 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 parish hall immediately after breakfast. The traditional anthem of MCCP ‘Parameshwara’ marked the beginning of the day, tuned in with their angelic voices by Apolinaris D’Souza, Dilip Correa, Prakash D’Souza, Longinus Fernandes, Anita Lobo, Anita Danthi, Janet Rodrigues, Reena D’Souza, Larissa Rego, Reshma D’Costa and Realista Correa. This followed by a welcome dance choreographed by Silvia Dias, general secretary, and participated by Alora, Renisha D’Souza, Rachel Rose Fernandes, and Arleen Senara Saldanha. Thereafter, Nirmala Goveas a renowned persona of the Konkani community, compere of the event opened the programme with an introduction to annual day and greeting the gathering.
The guest of honour Fr Stephen Lewis and Fr Marian Miranda, the chief guests Dilip Correa and Sandra Correa were led to the stage by the cultural secretary Praveen Serra and vice president Monica Fernandes, and were hand down with floral bouquets by the president Jessie Vivian Pereira. This was followed by accordance of a delightful welcome to the audience, delivered by Jessie Vivian Pereira. Fr Stephen Lewis graced the occasion by invoking God’s blessings for the success of the event. The main sponsors of the event were felicitated on stage with flower bouquets.
The cultural programme then followed with a powerful dance performed by ‘Kings United Dance Academy- Muscat,’ which set the programme mood with their beautiful performance. The participants were Kamlesh, Anaida Shokrekhoda, Leando Reyner and Renisa Walder. Fr Marian Miranda, then spiritual director of MCCP, felicitated with a memento by Jessie Vivian Pereira. The results of the last held crib making competition had been announced, and the winners have been given away with the prizes.
Winners
1. Navil Anthony
2. Pearl Nia Fernades & Sudeep Vas
3. Jassel & Michelle Pinto &Vincent Dcosta
Consolations
1. Stany Wilfred Menezes
2. Cyril Danthy
3. Stino pinto
4. Reshma Steevan Periera
This was followed by president’s address by Jessie Vivian Pereira, where she gave a brief on each of her executive committee members, about their background, their dedicated services to the community in all these 4 years of the term 2019-2023. The term of the committee normally due to end in 2021, but was extended due to Covid-19. She also expressed her gratitude to all the community members, the spiritual directors, and the entire executive committee members in particular who stood beside her through thick and thin.
Praveen Donald Serra, eminent stage artist, Konkani activist and Spiritual and cultural secretary of MCCP spoke in length on the great leadership of Jessie Vivian Pereira and her visionary ideas, empathy, team building, inspirational skills, and abled guidance to the committee members. He also praised her dynamic leadership that continued to hold MCCP’s mantle in spite of many setbacks in her personal life due to the untimely demise of her spouse the late Vivian Pereira and nephew the late Sharon Alva [MCCP – internal auditor]. The committee also missed the presence of dynamic and vibrant leader Vinod Terence D’Souza, vice president [cultural, sports and community service] due to his persistent illness which required him to stay back in India.
The felicitation of executive committee 2019-2023 members with a memento were hand down by Fr Stephen Lewis, who is also the new spiritual director of MCCP. Reshma D’Costa, sports secretary, presented annual report for 2019-2023 highlighting the various activities and noble charitable work done by Team 28. Praveen Donald Serra gave details on the financial business of the organization during the committee’s tenure. The annual report was then handed over to president Jessie Vivian Pereira for her due approval. The various key supporters to the MCCP were then called on stage and were honoured: Vijai D’Cunha for media and reports, Joachim D’Souza for photography; Loveline Rego for DJ and music; Leena Fernandes for altar decoration; Ajay D’Souza for banner design; and Herald Lewis for PowerPoint presentation.
As a tradition, the handing over ceremony was led by the core committee representatives; Stanely Fernandes, Clarence Donald Pinto, and John Gonsalves. Jessie Vivian Pereira has been newly inducted to the core committee to keep its total strength to four. The core committee also paid tributes to the late Donald Pinto who left to the heavenly abode recently.
New executive committee members for 2023-24 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 a floral bouquet by the respective counter parts in the outgoing committee:
Executive committee members for the year 2023 – 2024 are:
1. President – Nirmala Goveas
2. Vice president( Sports and Finance) – Caroline Braina Pinto
3. Vice president(Cultural, spiritual, CS) – Olive Jane Castelino
4. General secretary – Reshma Pereira
5. Honorary treasurer – Mamata D’Cunha
6. Internal auditor – Melisha D’Souza
7. Sports secretary – Anyrith Sherleen D’Souza
8. Cultural secretary – Rinet Menezes
9. Spiritual secretary – Juvan Sequeira
10. Community services secretary – Sunita Furtado
The day also marked the ushering in of the new executive committee of MCCP for the year 2023-2024 led by Nirmala Goveas. The mantle has been handed over to Nirmala Goveas by the current president, Jessie Vivian Pereira. The outgoing president, Jessie Vivian Pereira handed over a floral bouquet to the new president Nirmala Goveas and wished her all the very best assuring full support from her team and herself. In reply, Nirmala Goveas thanked her and expressed her gratitude to the community members as well.
To keep the children and the audience engaged, the compere Nirmala Goveas often announced many spot games in between the event, and many participants stole the show with their witty replies to the tricky questions. It was a delightful moment enjoyed by all. Before the audience served with a sumptuous lunch box with traditional Mangalurean cuisine at their seat, Silvia Dias offered grace before meals. Tressy Victoria Menezes [honorary treasurer] Reshma D’Costa [sports secretary] and Silvia Dias [general secretary], meticulously handled the responsibility of greeting and seating of guests. Praveen Serra [cultural secretary], Merita Pinto [community services secretary] and Vikas Marshal Fernandes [spiritual secretary] coordinated and flawlessly managed the stage as well felicitations of guests.
The special attraction of the day unfolded in the evening. It was an event where everyone had a reason to cheer. A brilliant troupe led by Dony Correa presented 6th show of their famous drama ‘Sikeram Driver’. It was magnificent display of their great talent through their frequent punches, flawless impeccable casting and the humour that flowed effortlessly keeping the audience glued to their seats with laughter and thrill for three hours. The audience kept in suspense about the real villain which only unfolded at the end of the story. All the actors who are superbly led by Dony Corea together with Asha Correa, Irene Mendonca, Robert Mendonca, Vincy Lobo, Godwin Castelino and Sunil Suvarna, provided great entertainment to the audience. The drama was originally written by the late Mickmax, founder member of the MCCP. The music rightly set to the actions on stage by Rohan Kalakul, lights superbly sharpened at different actions on stage by Melwin Kalakul, and stage was perfectly administered by Ashok D’Almeida.
Towards the end, the entire team of actors and coordinators were presented with mementos. Dony Correa expressed his gratitude on this gesture and thanked the patrons of Konkani talent for their support and encouragement. Praveen Donald Serra, thanked Dony Correa and his team on behalf of MCCP, and expressed heartfelt gratitude to all those who have worked tirelessly to make this event a grand success.
The entire event was covered by a PowerPoint presentation presented by Herald Lewis, Loveline Rego provided the sound system and music. 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 after a long gap due to Covid-19 protocols. The audience left happy and enthralled with high energy entertainment and a grand closure for the year 2019-2023.
The sponsors and event supporters are:
MAIN SPONSORS
1. Raphael Dsouza & family, main community contributor, Courtesy: Jessie Vivian Pereira
2. Clifford & Lydia Sanctis & family, Proprietor – HYDROLIFT – “Born to Lift” Courtesy: Jessie Vivian Pereira
3. Dilip Correa & family, Courtesy: Merita Pinto
4. Kings United Dance Academy Muscat, Director – Tejas Gupta
5. Swiftlly Founder & CEO – Shiv Gupta, Courtesy: Ajith D’Costa
6. Raphael Quadras, Zahrat Al Roudha
7. Special Technical Services (STS); Ganesh Shetty – Courtesy: Jessie Vivian Pereira
8. Areej Vegetable Oils & Derivatives – MINARA, Salem Al Bortmany, CEO.
Courtesy: Jessie Vivian Pereira
9. Tallentz Entreprises LLC, Baltazar Fernandes, Courtesy: Stanley Fernandes & Merita Pinto
EVENt SPONSORS
1. Rudolph Vaz & family, Courtesy: Jessie Vivian Pereira
2. Sashidhar Shetty, MD – Multitech LLC – Courtesy : Stanley Fernandes
3. Ajith Saldaha, Courtesy : Silvia Dias Fernandes
4. Ashok Mathias, Courtesy: Vikas Fernandes
SUPPORTERS
1. Media & report: Vijay Dcunha
2. Photography: Joachim D’Souza
3. DJ & Music: Loveline Rego
4. Altar decoration: Leena Fernandes
5. Banner: Ajay D’Souza
6. Hospitality: Melwin Menezes
7. PPT: Herold Lewis
VOLUNTEERS
1. Janet Rodrigues
2. Priya Menezes
3. Paul D’Souza
4. Rolph
5. Sunil Dsouza
6. Davis
7. Maklin Pinto
8. Rajesh Mascarenhas