Media Release
Singapore, Oct 21: The SingManGoers, a vibrant community of Mangaloreans and Goans in Singapore, gathered at the Church of St Bernadette to joyfully celebrate Monthi Festh the feast of the Nativity of Our Lady. This historic occasion marked the first Monthi Festh Mass held in Singapore, led by Fr Venus Colaco, a beloved priest from Mangaluru currently serving in Singapore.
The celebrations began with a traditional flower showering and the blessing of grains, both deeply symbolic acts of gratitude for the blessings of a bountiful harvest. Families dressed in traditional attire gathered around Our Lady's Grotto, where the statue of Infant Mary was placed, replicating the serene scene of St Bernadette in prayer. Coordinated by Divya Gomes, the flower showering reflected the rich cultural heritage of the community.
Fr Venus led the congregation in prayer, blessing grains brought from Mangaluru. The choir uplifted spirits with soul-stirring renditions of Sakkad Sangathan Meliyan and Moriek Hogolsiyan, while children and adults alike showered Infant Mary with flowers. Following the blessing, the congregation proceeded to the church for a solemn Mass, participating wholeheartedly in this historic occasion.
The Mass was beautifully bilingual, with readings and hymns presented in both Konkani and English. Jovita Barboza and Shanon Castelino delivered the readings in Konkani, while Suman Menezes and Schamane Baretto lent their voices to the responsorial psalm and gospel acclamation, also in Konkani. Josna Pereira led the prayers of the faithful in English, ensuring inclusivity for all attendees.
The choir, under the skilled direction of Suman Menezes, with Prashanth D’Souza on keyboard and Jayesh Fernandes on guitar, crafted deeply moving moments. The talented choristers Andrina Pais, Mabel Prabhu, Merlie Pais, Reuben Alvares, Richard D’Souza, Schamane Baretto, Shaila D’Souza, and Shalini Lobo guided the congregation in singing hymns that resonated with the spirit of the occasion, leaving a lasting impression on everyone present.
Fr Venus delivered a powerful homily on family bonding, emphasizing the importance of shared meals in nurturing relationships and fostering community unity. His message deeply resonated with the attendees, setting a tone of warmth and togetherness for the day.
Commissioned Eucharistic ministers, Ananth Prabhu and Francis D’Souza, reverently assisted Fr Venus in distributing holy communion during the Mass, adding a sense of solemnity and devotion to the sacred proceedings. Following the eucharist, Divya Gomes expressed heartfelt gratitude to Fr Venus and to everyone who played a vital role in making Singapore’s very first Monthi Festh Mass, celebrated in both Konkani and English, a resounding success. Her words of thanks resonated with the entire congregation, acknowledging the collective effort that brought this cherished tradition to life in their community.
After the Mass, the congregation received blessed Kenshyo (new grains), symbolizing the sharing of God’s abundant blessings. Following a light snack and to the call of ‘Hampankatta Poi’, buses transported the community to CALI restaurant for the traditional Novem Jevan, a celebratory meal followed by an engaging cultural programme.
At the restaurant, families were welcomed with bowls of vorn, prepared earlier in the day by Laveena Vaz and Pratibha Saldanha, mixed with the blessed grains allowing everyone to taste the first fruits of the harvest.
The meal, a combination of traditional vegetarian Onam Sadya dishes and non-vegetarian chicken and mutton options, catered to the Konkani Catholic palate. The communal, banquet-style dining experience was the highlight of the day, bringing families and friends together in a setting that radiated joy and festivity, reminiscent of past celebrations back home. Before the meal, Fr Venus led the congregation in a heartfelt Grace, invoking God’s blessings over the food and uniting everyone in a moment of gratitude and reflection.
In a delightful touch of tradition, Merlie Pais organized a procession where men dressed in mundus and women in elegant sarees and salwar suits made their way to the banquet area, balancing chomukhas (traditional vessels) and baltis with expert grace, serving the crowd with style and poise. The serving team, led by Gurkar Richard D’Souza, included Francis D’Souza, Shirley Menezes, Vinol D’Souza, Schamane Baretto, Robin Fernandes, Loy Gomes, Ashok Serrao, Niteen Lewis, Brayan Cutinha, Shanon Castelino, Roshan D’Silva, Kevin Machado, Prem, Reuben Alvares, Nasvill Pereira, Tina Alvares, Mary Lopis, Rohini Furtado, Joel and Noel Saldanha. With the lively beats of a brass band providing the perfect backdrop, the servers carried the meal presented on traditional banana leaf plates with a spirit of joy that reflected the essence of the celebration.
This unique dining experience beautifully mirrored the message of Fr Venus’ sermon, emphasizing that family relationships remain evergreen when nurtured through the shared experience of a meal, savoured together in love and unity.
The cultural programme was expertly hosted by Avith and Avilla D’Costa, a charming husband-and-wife duo who, at the time, were just a week away from welcoming their first child (who has since joyfully arrived!). With warm smiles and an infectious energy, they welcomed the guests and set the tone for the festivities by kicking off the programme with a fun and interactive icebreaker game, where participants had to find their 'Xezari' (neighbor). The laughter and excitement from this game broke the ice perfectly, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and connection.
Following the icebreaker, a series of spot games and prize giveaways kept everyone fully engaged and entertained, ensuring that the joy and excitement of the celebration never waned. The emcees’ lively presence and skilful coordination made for a memorable and seamless programme, with the entire crowd thoroughly enjoying every moment.
As lunch came to a close, the entertainment continued with Kevin Machado and Merlie Pais captivating the audience with their heartfelt rendition of Shirandariso Paus, which filled the room with nostalgia and joy. Their performance set the perfect mood for what followed Andrina Pais took the stage next, enchanting the crowd with a medley of classic Konkani songs, accompanied by the talented Prashanth D'Souza on the keyboard, who’s soulful playing added depth and emotion to each note.
To keep the energy high, Shaila and Agnes D’Souza organized a spirited dance contest between Singapore’s East and West regional groups. The competition heated up as the Bella Beats group comprising Sharon Soares, Karen, and Pratibha Saldanha represented the West with an impressive garba raas dance, full of grace and rhythm. Challenging them was the dynamic husband and wife duo, Harman John and Andrina Pais, who wowed the crowd with a lively mix of retro and 90s hits, bringing a fun and nostalgic twist to the competition.
The excitement did not stop there. A high energy Bollywood dance performance by the community’s youngest stars followed, choreographed remotely by Shalini Lobo. The young dancers Lincoln, Lisa, Yvonne, Liam, Seana, Misha, Craig, Neave, and Morganne delighted the audience with their enthusiasm and skill, having practiced diligently under Shalini’s virtual guidance. Their performance was a perfect blend of vibrant energy and youthful joy, leaving everyone thoroughly entertained.
The festivities carried on into the evening with even more excitement as SingManGo’s church choir seamlessly transitioned into a lively band, ready to keep the celebration going. Gurkar Richard D'Souza set the tone with a spirited and entertaining introduction, energizing the crowd as he presented the band. As soon as the first notes of Baila filled the air, it was impossible to resist the crowd was instantly on their feet, dancing with joy and enthusiasm. The infectious rhythms and lively beats had everyone swaying and celebrating together, transforming the evening into a vibrant, high-spirited dance party that perfectly captured the essence of community and festivity.
As the day drew to a close, Noel Saldanha expressed heartfelt gratitude to the core events team Divya Gomes, Laveena Vaz, Merlie Pais, Nasvill Pereira, Pratibha Saldanha, Richard D'Souza, and Vinol D'Souza for their exceptional coordination. He also extended thanks to the community for making the first Monthi Festh Mass and cultural celebration in Singapore a resounding success.
The festivities concluded with light snacks and coffee, as the SingManGoers returned home, their hearts full of joy, already looking forward to their next gathering.