Pics and Report by Wilson Saldanha, Shirthady/Kuwait
Kuwait, May 19: Previously wedding was the only function celebrated grandly in which people used to spend in bigger amounts and all the family members, relatives and friends used to attend. Christening, Communion and confirmation were spiritual functions celebrated only with family members and close relatives. Now the parish feasts are disappearing and chances of get together are becoming rear. Spiritual and family functions like Christening, Communion and confirmation are also celebrated in a grand manner.
.Due to the status and ego problems middle and lower class people are suffering a lot to cop up with this custom. Especially communion is such a function where many families are forced to celebrate it in a single day in a single parish resulting shortage of halls to celebrate and shortage of guests as they will be distributed into more than one place. Kuwait Canara Welfare Association (KCWA) a leading community association has taken an appreciable step to overcome this situation in Kuwait.
KCWA who successfully celebrated the First Holy Communion Party of their member's child for the first time in 2006, now again hosted it on 18 May 2007 at Indian Community Senior School, Salmiya at 12.00 Noon. As a part of community awareness and to emphasize that Kuwait Canara Welfare Association serves and promotes community welfare, KCWA had taken a decision earlier to hold a community celebration of the First Holy Communion of its members' children every year. Apart from its motto of "providing primary education for poor children", KCWA always strives to hold various schemes and activities for the benefit of its members and their children.
The participant children who received first holy communion were Trevin Aron Cutinho Child of Philip Vincent Cutinho and Tressy Cutinho MUMBAI (MALAD) parish, Queena Menezes Child of Philip Menezes and Presilda Menezes- BARKUR parish, Makita Hazel Menonca Child of Maxim W. Mendonca and Helen Prabha Mendonca MOODBIDRI parish, Janet Florine D' Souza Child of Gilbert D' Souza and Margaret D'Souza- KEMMANNU parish, Alger Mathias Child of Gilbert Mathias and Maria R.S.D' Souza- PERNAL parish.
The program started with general welcome by former president and compere of the program Steven Machado followed by entry of children who received first holy communion to the hall with a warm welcome of confetti’s. After thanks giving prayer, decorated cake was cut and was blessed by hymns.
President Jossy Pinto Nantoor spoke regarding the KCWA idea of conducting this program. Philiph Vincent Cutinho replied the toast raised by Fr. Nelson D’Souza on behalf of children and parent. KCWA felicitated the FHC children with a souvenir. Fr. Melwyn D’Cunha spoke few words about KCWA’s venture and blessed the FHC children.
The well arranged party was very much entertaining with Grand march, dances, songs, children & adults games. The party came to an end with mouth warming buffet by ‘Little India/ M & M Confectionery followed by masala dance to the tune of ‘Blackouts”. The program was well compered by Steven Machado and Sherine Sequeira.
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