News & pics: Rons Bantwal
Mumbai, Sep 12: The Konkani Christians of St John Evangelist Church, Marol, Andheri East, under the joint auspices of St John Konkani Community, celebrated Mother Mary's birth anniversary Monthi Fest 2022 with great enthusiasm at St. John Evangelist Church here on Saturday evening.
Chikkamagaluru diocese priest Fr William Pereira of Hassan celebrated thanksgiving service and bowed the occasion to Mother Mary. After that, he blessed the New Harvest Rice Paddy and distributed it to the gathering. St John Church Parish priest Fr Anthony J Fernandes participated in the Mass celebration.
Later, the devotees gathered at the Evangelist school auditorium in a grand procession to commemorate Mother Nature with a decorated statue of Mother. Vice president Jesse Fernandez gave the welcome. Lawrence Albert and Mary D'Souza traditionally welcomed the guests with betel-nut, jaggery-water. The assembly programme started with the welcome song of the Children.
Fr Antony J Fernandes was the chief guest and the message of the festival was that Monthi festival is a symbol of happiness and prosperity that tells how to live as one family with love. It teaches one to help one another. Mother Mary is the mother of true love may her blessings be upon all. He blessed everyone and wished them good health and a peaceful and happy life.
Fr William Pereira, Fr Andrew Mukadam, Fr Suresh Tokala, Fr Harold Quadras, Br K Aldrin, Br Antony Naveen was present and the guests felicitated the winners of the talent competition organized by Konkani Bhasha Mandal Maharashtra recently and distributed prizes to the contestants of Zone Konkani Institute.
St John Konkani Community president Edwin Augustine Soares, vice presidents Jessy Fernandes and Sunita Soares, secretary Mary Fernandes, treasurer James D'Sa, secretary Thomas Pereira with Executive Committee Members Cloudy Monteiro, Veera Monteiro, Telma Dsa, Hilda Pereira, Leena Lasrado, Walter Lasrado, Gretta D'Silva, Rita D'Souza, Alice D'Souza, Gracie Vaz, Joan Lobo, Priscilla D'Souza, and Hilda Mathias honoured the guests with bouquets.
As a cultural event children and members of the organization presented group dance, group singing, comedy skit composed and directed by Lawrence D'Souza, dances choreographed by Gretta D'Silva. Later, Noven was served with a pure vegetarian meal like traditional Manglurean Food. Food blessed with Grace before meals by Fr Suresh Tokala. Miss Ivanica Lenisha Pinto, Master Vivan Pereira hosted the programme. Vote of thanks was given by Edwin Augustin Soares.