Media Release

Sydney, Sep 13: The Mangalurean community in Sydney enjoyed a day of radiant sunshine, spring warmth, and communal joy as over 300 attendees celebrated the Feast of the Nativity (Monthi Fest) on Sunday September 8, organized by the Mangalorean Catholic Association of Sydney (MCAS) Inc. The event was held at the spacious Roselea Community Centre in Beecroft.

With blue skies and a gentle breeze, the day began with the traditional showering of flowers. Children assembled at the statue of the infant Mary, shimmering in the sunshine outside the hall, eagerly preparing to release the flowers they had lovingly collected in their plates and baskets. Fr Valerian D’Souza, who had traveled from Newcastle to honor the occasion, led the gathering in Konkani prayers. The excitement among the children and the crowd was palpable as the statue of the infant Mary was enveloped in a vibrant array of colors while the choir sang the hymns 'Sakkad Sangantha Melyan' and 'Moriek Hogolsian'. It was a deeply reverent and moving display.

The congregation then proceeded solemnly in a procession into the hall to begin the Mass. The altar was magnificently adorned, and the grotto of Mother Mary was gracefully decorated with flowers, palms, and sugar cane stalks. Altar servers Crystal Pereira and Michelle Saldanha provided excellent support to Fr Valerian throughout the Mass. The readings were presented in both Konkani and English, and the Prayers of the Faithful were eloquently read by the young adults of the community. Fr Valerian delivered a powerful and uplifting sermon, emphasizing the key virtues of Mother Mary—humility, faith, obedience, prayer, purity, charity, and patience—and reminded everyone of the importance of honoring their mothers and families.

The choir’s singing brought an extraordinary level of clarity, harmony, and emotion to the worship experience, significantly enhancing the atmosphere and touching the hearts of everyone in the congregation. The young children’s choir concluded the Mass with a beautiful rendition of 'Maria Mai Kurpechi', creating a moving moment as the next generation honored Our Lady in our mother tongue.

Following the Mass, the festivities commenced in the hall that was already vibrant with color and buzzing with energy. MCs Ajith Lobo and Jyothsna D’Souza extended a warm welcome and expertly hosted the event in both Konkani and English. The celebration began with a group welcome song led by Neil Mascarenhas, setting the perfect tone for the occasion. MCAS president Rowena Sequeira addressed the gathering with heartfelt gratitude, reflecting on the community’s support over the past 17 years and acknowledging the efforts of former presidents and executive committee members. She also expressed appreciation for the generosity of sponsors and the hard work of volunteers who came forward to cook up a feast, set up the hall, serve food, and contributed immensely to the day's success. The MCAS committee members were introduced, including Roopa Menezes, Savio Monis, Onita Saldanha, Darryl D’Souza, Felix Pais, Adeep Rego, and Jeevan Tauro.

The cultural segment enthralled the audience, starting with an energetic Mando performance by several members of the crowd. This was followed by a captivating children’s dance, beautifully choreographed by Lavina D’Souza. The performers were met with enthusiastic applause, which elevated their already impressive performance. The segment concluded with the presentation of gifts and certificates of appreciation to the participating children, honoring their contributions in adding to the festive atmosphere.

An icebreaker game, brimming with laughter and energy, set the tone for a lively and inclusive atmosphere, especially for newcomers to Sydney or first-time attendees of the MCAS Monthi Fest. A humorous Konkani skit performed by Joylene Moras, Roopa Menezes, Ranjith Furtado, and Austin Goveas had the entire audience in stitches. Meanwhile, Nelson D’Souza and Ranjith Furtado engaged attendees with a trivia challenge on the online platform blooket, testing their knowledge of Mangalorean traditions. DJ Darryl D’Souza kept the energy high with vibrant music, ensuring that the crowd stayed entertained throughout the event.

Earlier in the year, MCAS hosted its inaugural digital "MCAS Got Talent" competition, which attracted an impressive number of entries from applicants of all ages. Trophies, prizes, and certificates were awarded at the Monthi Fest event to the winners and participants, celebrating their diverse talents. The judges were also acknowledged and thanked for their dedication and fairness in selecting deserving winners from each age group. An art competition for children themed “I Love My Mama Mary” specially for the event garnered a remarkable number of submissions. While each entry was exceptional, prizes and certificates were awarded to the top two winners in each age group, recognizing their outstanding creativity and expression.

The lunch banquet, masterfully orchestrated by Michael Fernandes together with a large dedicated team of volunteers, along with two professional chefs, was a culinary triumph. The menu began with enticing appetizers, including chili chicken, fish Amritsari, and cocktail samosas. For the main course, guests enjoyed a rich buffet selection of traditional Mangalorean specialties, such as sannas, bafat pork, chicken curry, channa, vegetable sambhar, and karamb, accompanied by jeera rice, salad, pickle and pappads. Each dish was thoroughly enjoyed and received glowing praise. The meal was perfectly rounded off with a delectable vermicelli kheer, providing a sweet and satisfying conclusion to the feast.

Lunch was followed by a lively raffle and the traditional housie, both of which were met with great enthusiasm from the crowd. Both games offered a multitude of prizes and were played with spirited participation. The celebration wrapped up with the traditional, vibrant Baila music, bringing the event to a lively close. The seamless execution of the festivities was made possible by the hard work of numerous volunteers who managed the event behind the scenes. Special credit to Roshan Picardo for capturing the day’s moments with his stunning photos and videos.

In summary, the MCAS Monthi Fest of 2024 was a tremendous success, rekindling cherished memories of Nativity celebrations in Mangalore and evoking a deep sense of nostalgia. The event’s triumph was a testament to the invaluable support of attendees, participants, performers, sponsors, and donors. The Mangalorean Catholic Association of Sydney (MCAS) eagerly anticipates continuing this beloved tradition for many years to come, generation after generation.