Pics and report: Vijay R Saldhana
Doha, Dec 5: The feast of St Francis Xavier was celebrated grandly on Thursday December 3 at the church of Our Lady of the Rosary, here.
It was held under the guidance of Fr Anand Castelino, the spiritual director of the Konkani community, and the Konkani Speaking Committee (KSC) having representatives from Goa and Mangaluru.
Thousands of devotees gathered at the church for Holy Mass in Konkani which was concelebrated by two priests - Fr Anand Castelino and the main celebrant Fr Simon Rico the visiting priest from Goa. Fr Simon also preached the homily on the occasion. The preaching was based on various themes during the nine days novena and was very much liked and appreciated by the community.
Parish priest Fr Selvaraja delivered his message at the beginning of the mass as he had to rush for his mass obligations. Fr Selvaraja felicitated Fr Simon Rico with a shawl.
Earlier, on Wednesday December 2, as a conclusion to the nine days a novena was celebrated with mass, followed by a procession with the statue of St Francis Xavier and its devotees around the church compound and concluded with novena.
The feast Pirginth was John and Jessy Dsa. Novena sponsors, Murdoms and Pirginth were honoured with a blessed candle and this was conducted by the secretary of KSC. Treesa Goveas thanked all the Pirginth, sponsors, murdoms who contributed towards novenas and feast celebrations, the Mangalurean choir, Goan choir, youth and children’s choir groups, during the novenas.
In his address Fr Castelino thanked the committee for organizing the event. He also thanked Fr Simon for his visit to Doha for the occasion and the wonderful sermons throughout the novenas. He appreciated the Pirginth, Mudthoms, sponsors and all those who worked for this event as well as all the community for coming together to make it a successful occasion.
Fr Castelino and Vivian D'Souza president of KSC felicitated Fr Simon and Pirginth with a memento and shawl. Fr Simon addressed the gathering and thanked everyone for inviting him and giving him an opportunity to preach the nine days novenas and celebrate the feast with the Konkani speaking community at Doha. Pirginth John Dsa spoken on the occasion.
Delicious food was served by Pirginth John and Jessy Dsa to all present and this was relished by all.