Media release
Dubai, Jul 11: St Mary’s Mangalorean Community (SMMC), a renowned Mangalurean Konkani organisation of St Mary’s Catholic Church, Dubai, has announced new office bearers for the term 2019-2021. Fr Denis Saldanha, OFM Cap, spiritual director of SMMC announced the new core committee members.
SMMC, a novel organisation was initiated in 2013 to cater to the spiritual requirements of Mangalurean Konkani Community of St Mary’s Parish in Dubai. With the apt guidance and encouragement of the present energetic spiritual director Fr Denis Saldanha, SMMC successfully hosted spiritual as well as cultural programmes like Lenten retreat, Konkani drama, indoor sports day, nine days Novena and Monthi Fest, various competitions and cultural events.
Lavina D'Souza, Joseph Mathias, Fr Denis Saldanha and Diany D'Souza
The previous core committee headed by Jerina Lewis, as the coordinator completed its term. Fr Denis thanked the previous committee for their selfless service in building up the Konkani community and providing many opportunities of coming together and showcasing talents of the community.
The new office bearers of SMMC Dubai for the year 2019 – 2021 are:-
Diany D’Souza - Coordinator
Joseph Mathais - Vice-Coordinator
Lavina D’Souza - Secretary
Leela D’Souza - Treasurer
Clifford Rodrigues - Liturgical Coordinator
Helen Lobo – Assistant Liturgical Coordinator
Rudolf Sanctis - SMKV Coordinator
Francis Kiran Fernandes- Cultural Coordinator
Wilfred Mathias - Asst. Cultural Coordinator
Vivian Fernandes - Media Coordinator
Vanita D’Souza - Asst. Media Coordinator
The new core team under the guidance of Fr Denis has enthusiastically geared up to plan new endeavors to enhance the spiritual and cultural activities for Mangalurean community of St Mary’s Church, Dubai.
SMMC new core team is planning for a grand celebration of nine days novena for the popular Mangalurean feast of Mother Mary ‘Monthi Fest’ with Konkani Mass, novena and flower veneration to Balok Mori ‘Bambino’. Monthi Fest will be celebrated on Thursday, 5th September 2019 at 8pm with grand procession, flower veneration to Mother Mary, high mass in Konkani and thereafter 'Novem Jevann'.
A cultural programme will be organised on Friday, 6th September, 2019 in the Bishop Gremoli Memorial Hall (main hall) of St Mary’s Church. More details about Monti fest celebration will be announced soon.
SMMC is also intending to organise many Konkani cultural events. Staging Pradeep Barboza’s new Konkani comedy drama on November 15 is one among them.
The able SMMC’s new core team with Fr Denis, deems to render good benefits to the Mangalurean Community of St Mary’s Dubai parish.