The Konkani community of Holy Spirit Church of Ghala parish celebrated the feast of Nativity on the September 9. The feast was a culmination to a nine-day novena which was conducted by Fr Sunil Monis, a visiting Carmelite priest hailing from Mangaluru and serving currently in Gujarat mission. During the novena, he helped the faithful to reflect various social and religious aspects of life.
The festivities on the feast day began with the recitation of novena at the grotto followed by showering of flowers to Mother Mary’s bambino. Fr Sunil Monis blessed the ‘Novem’, which is the new paddy corn from Mangaluru. During the solemn feast mass, Fr Sunil Monis was the main celebrant. Fr Wilson Rumao, parish priest of Holy Spirit Church, Ghala, Fr Bosco, Fr Thomas and Fr Sebastian con-celebrated the mass. The melodious choir was conducted by Cannon D’Souza and coordinated by Charlotte Cutinha. Trivean Goveas and Sydney Rebello accompanied the choir with their music.
After the mass blessed ‘Novem’ was distributed to the faithful and the children were given gift packs.
A ‘Novem Jevan’ with a cultural programme was organized in the basketball court of the parish. The programme opened with a traditional Mangalurean dance choreographed by Lizy Barboza. The participants were Stephen Monteiro, Pramila Pasanna, Hendrita Colaco, Anita Lobo, Reshma D’Costa, Synthia D’Souza, Denis Cutinho, Zeeliya D’Souza, Suman Mathias and Denis D’Souza.
It was followed by a skit on Our Lady of Fatima organized by Leena Barreto. The participants were Latha D’Sa, Carol Rodrigues, Rolwin Lobo, Siona Saldanha, Allen D’Souza, Meera Saldahna, Cleona Rodrigues, Lizy Barboza, Rebecca Pinto and Meurel D’Souza.
The president of Ghala Mangalurean Catholic Community (GMCC) Edward Mendonca welcomed the gathering. All the priests present on this occasion were welcomed to the dais by the committee members of GMCC with a floral bouquet. Parish priest Fr Wilson Rumao addressed the gathering and wished the Konkani speaking community a happy feast.
Fr Sunil Monis blessed the ‘Novem Jevan’ which was home cooked by the parishioners and small bowls of food were brought to the dais by the representatives of the teams who cooked the food. Rony Lobo, the gurkar for the event, offered the Jevnak Udak. The formal part of the programme was compered by Charlotte Cutinha who is a very active member of the GMCC.
During the second half of the programme, the audience enjoyed live singing with a Mangalurean band which entertained them as they enjoyed the tasty home cooked ‘Novem Jevan’.
Princy and Canan D’Souza sung the beautiful song ‘Hya Sobith Sovsaranth’ , while Rony Lobo honoured Mother Theresa with his song. Zino Saldhanha and Renita D’Souza entertained the crowd with their melodious mix of Konkani songs. A beautiful Konkani songs medley with various old and new Konkani numbers was sung by Canan D’Souza, Cavin D’Souza, Joyal D’Souza, Joel Mendonca and Leanne D’Souza. The musicians for the live band were Trivean Goveas on the keyboard, Robert D’Souza on lead guitar, Dominic Dias on bass guitar and Darwin on drums.
The tiny tots group named ‘Black Cats’ consisting of Anisha D’Costa, Tania Saldhanha, Gloria Barboza, Delishya D’Souza, Francesca Colaco, and Ashvitha Cutinho mesmerised the crowd with their dance. This dance was choreographed by Priyanka Mendonca who is one of the very young and talented youth of the community.
Joel Mendonca and Praveen Serra, both very well know comperes of the community, compered the musical part of the programme and kept the crowd busy with spot prizes bonanza and raffle draw.
Prem Colaco proposed the vote of thanks. The Ghala Mangalorean Catholic community is greatly indebted to all the sponsors, goody bag sponsors, well wishers and volunteers for their unstinting support without which this programme could not have been conducted. They are also grateful to Michael Goveas, John Gonsalves and Philomena Mendonca for their overwhelming support.
The various teams who prepared the Novem Jevan are as below:
Novem: Rebecca, Shane, Hector and Sabrina Pinto
Sheet (Rice): Wilber and Alban D’Souza
Lonche (Pickle): Gilbert Ida Castelino and family
Alsande: John Fernandes, Leo, Lancy and Cynthia Saldanha, Victor Walter Mascarenhas, Vincent and Brenda D’Costa, Naveen Rony D’Costa, Joseph D’Souza, and Lawrence
D’Souza
Kuvalo: Henry Gracy Castelino and team
Moong: Latha D’Sa, Jane D’Cunha, Zeliya D’Souza, Lavina D’Sa, Violet D’Costa
Bhenda: Joice Gonsalves, Nancy Gonsalves, Sunil Furtado, Veena Lewis, Nirmala Fernandes, Joanne Rego, Ashwini Corda, Joseph Almeida, Monica Periera, Tressy Goveas,
Lawrence Cardoza, Joyel and Lavisha Sequira,Thomas and Aslita D’Souza
Channa: Ignatius Celine Lobo and family, Avil Lobo, Shailesh Cutinho, and Ajay Periera
Karathe: Lancy Gracy Barboza, Rajesh D’Costa, Sunil D’Souza, Jeevan Fernandes, Micheal Dmello, Raphael Pernal
Korum: Eugine Helen Seqeuira, Loyd D’Cunha, John Secundas, Praveen Montiero
Vorn: Ignatius Celine Lobo and family
Banana: Lynel Lobo
Novem Jevan was served on the traditional banana leaf to all who were present. People from in and around Muscat had come in to participate in this special feast celebration. It was indeed a memorable day for all the Konkani members of Ghala parish to celebrate the birthday of Mother Mary with such pomp and grandeur.
Source: daijiworld.com