By SMMC Media release

Dubai, Aug 16: After the success of last year, St. Mary’s Mangalorean Community (SMMC) Dubai, a novel Mangalorean Konkan organization of St. Mary’s Catholic Church has made preparations for the upcoming popular Mangalorean family feast “Monti Fest” with nine days Novena from 30th August 2016. Every day’s Novena service will begin with Konkani Mass in the evening at 8:00, thereafter Novena and flower strewing ceremony by children to Balok Mori at 8:45pm in front of the Grotto.
Spiritual director Rev. Fr. Robert Lasrado told that last year when the celebration of Novena and flower strewing for 9 days initiated, there was tremendous appreciation and participation from the children and parishioners.

This year too Fr. Robert has encouraged all the konkan parishioners to attend all nine days Novena and mass to express love and devotion to our dear Mother Mary. On the 8th September, Thursday, on the Nativity feast day, veneration to Mother Mary will begin in the evening at 8:00 pm with flower strewing ceremony in front of the Main entrance of the church and thereafter feast mass in the Main church. After the mass, there will be traditional dinner ‘novem jevann’ to all. Fr. Joachim D’souza OFM Cap from Mangalore will grace the novena and feast masses.

Following day on Friday, on 9th September, evening a cultural program will be organized in the Main Hall of St. Mary’s Church.
SMMC also has organized some competitions for children to mark this blissful event, details as follows:-

1. Dance competition (Solo & Group of 2 to 10) :-
4 to 7 years
8 to 12 years &
13 to 16 years

2. Drawing competition:
4 to 7 years
3. Bible Quiz competition:
8 to 12 years &
13 to 16 years

If any parishioner is interested in participating above competitions, kindly register either by sending email to montifestdubai@gmail.com or with Fr. Robert Lasrado at his office on or before 31st August 2016. SMMC Event Core committee will send elaborate details of competition with the Registration Form of contests to the participants by email. Limited entries will be considered on first come first serve basis.

Competitions will be held in the St. Mary’s Church premises on 3rd September, Saturday 2016 afternoon between 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm.
More details about Monti Fest celebration and competitions will be available on the Konkani Notice board at St. Mary’s church premises.
SMMC a novel organization initiated in 2013 to cater the spiritual requirements of vast Mangalorean Konkan Community of St. Mary’s Parish Dubai. Fr. Robert Lasrado, the Spiritual Director of SMMC with the Core committee successfully accomplishes various endeavors every year like Konkani Drama, Sports event and other cultural & Spiritual programs to enhance the spiritual and commercial activities for Mangalorean community of St. Mary’s
Church Dubai.