News: Naveen Mascarenhas

Pics: Alston Conrard Moras

Muscat, Mar 20: The lenten season offers an opportunity to all to come closer to God. For this very purpose, the Mangalorean Catholic Centre of the Parish (MCCP) in association with Goan Community of Ruwi Parish organized a Spiritual Day at Sts Peter and Paul Church, Ruwi recently.

All community members and families were invited to spend half a day in the presence of the Lord and invoke his blessings and grace. The call did not go unheeded as large number from the Konkani community assembled right from 7.30 am and the day’s spiritual journey began with a reflection on the Stations of the Cross. This was followed by Konkani Mass celebrated by Fr Marian Miranda, the Asst. Parish Priest and Spiritual director of MCCP& GCO. The Goan choir group rendered inspiring hymns, prayers to ring in the solemn and prayerful atmosphere required for the occasion. Before the next session began, all the gathered were served with a light breakfast.

Goan community member Clifford Alfonso and team conducted a soulful praise and worship session with a series of hymns and prayers. This was followed by an excellent reflection talk by Helen Lobo, the main coordinator of the Catechism and an active member in various forums of the parish. She brought forth the need for maintaining
our spirituality everyday despite various pushes and pulls of life. This reflection talk got further emphasised to all the gathered when children of Ruwi Parish (Filipino community) performed a skit. The skit showed how evil always hovers around us and will overpower us if we move away from the grace of our Lord. But when we repent and return to our God, He would help us overcome all our shortcomings and weaknesses. The theme and performance of the children touched the hearts of the faithful and led them into a sombre and poignant reflective mood.

As part of the Lenten preparation, confessions in Konkani were conducted. With the adoration of the Holy Sacrament, the faithful exercised devotion through a series of prayers. The prayers were read by Naveen Mascarenhas, Philomena Saldanha, Sam Menezes, Helen Lobo and Wilson Lobo. It was organised by Naveen Mascarenhas (VP-Cultural, Spiritual and CS), Philomena Saldanha (Spiritual secretary) and Jane Castelino (General Secretary) in co-ordination with Helen Lobo. Lunch was served to all who attended.

It was indeed a very enriching spiritual session and an event to rejuvenate the Christian faith.

MCCP Team-26 consisting of President Sunil Furtado, vice-president, Finance and Sports Michael Goveas, vice-president, Cultural, Spiritual and CS Naveen Mascarenhas, general secretary Jane Castelino, honorary treasurer, Francis Pinto, internal auditor Vijai D’Cunha, sports secretary Terence D’Souza, cultural secretary Dynet Fernandes, spiritual secretary Philomena Saldanha and Community Services secretary Sam Suneel Menezes along with Goan community members (Gayle Araujo Estebeiro, Herman Estebeiro, Griselda Araujo, Melzer Menezes, Clifford Alfonso, Edwin Veigas and Savio Carvalho) made a sincere effort in bringing together the Konkani community in Muscat under one roof for this spiritual devotion and prepare for the Easter.