Kuwait: Konkani Community of Ahmadi celebrate Monti Fest with utmost religious fervor

By Alban DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Kuwait, 07 Sep 2015: The Konkani community of Ahmadi parish here celebrated feast of Nativity of Mary (Monti Fest) with utmost religious fervor on Friday September 4.  Nine-day novena that began on August 36 was held in preparation for solemn feast.

 

The parish priest Fr Xavier D’Souza, guest priest Fr Stephen Claude Mascarenhas, Fr Antony Lopez from Holy Family Cathedral Church – Kuwait city, Fr Noel Almeida from St Daniel Comboni Church, Abbasiya held the novena on different days and delivered homilies.

 

Fr Stephen Claude Mascarenhas along with Fr Franklin, Fr Antony Lopez and Fr Xavier concelebrated the festal Eucharistic Celebrations.

 

Earlier, the procession was held with statue of Infant Mary, wherein little children showered flowers in honor of Infant Mary.

 

 

 

A large multitude of Konkani speaking people gathered from different parts of Kuwait. The church was completely packed and there was a tent put up outside the church to accommodate the rest of the people. The estimated crowd was about 1,700.

 

The sermon emphasized on the importance of love in a family and on the origin of the Monti Fest in part of Mangaluru by a Goan priest Fr Joachim Miranda.

 

The melodious choir of the parish led the congregation in attaining spiritual bliss.

 

Helen Clara Fernandes, the secretary of the Konkani Committee - Ahmadi, specially expressing gratitude towards all the donors, well wishers and benefactors who came forward to celebrate the event.

 

The celebration concluded with the benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Fr. Stephen Claude Mascarenhas led the congregation into a spirit-full praise and worship session and the presence of the Lord was truly felt in the midst of the people who gathered. It was a fitting tribute, considering the love, affection and veneration that the faithful expressed towards Mother Mary.

 

Thereafter, the gathering was redirected to have lunch popularly called as the Noven Jevan. This meal primarily symbolizes the unity and love that people, irrespective of their origin, joined together to share the meal as one family. The delicious food which included the traditional mean–Alu Dhento, Sone ani Thendli and Karamaso Salad with the scrumptious ‘Vorn’ was catered by M & M Confectionery and was served by Kuwait’s reputed Charity Show organizers, UMK.

 

There was a short programme conducted after the lunch with music by DJ Russell Fernandes, dance, housie-housie, auction of the raffle coupons and lucky draw and the programme concluded with Baila.

 

It was a vibrant and an eventful evening, regardless of the extreme Kuwait heat. It is the unity, dedication and commitment of the Konkani Committee members that led to the grand success of this event.