Annual Family Picnic Day at St. Paul’s Church, Abu Dhabi

By John Dilima
Photos by Wilson, Daniel & Maria
Bellevison Media Network

Abu Dhabi, 30 Oct 2017: The Konkani Community of St. Paul’s Church Mussafah, Abu Dhabi has conducted their Second Annual Family Picnic Day on Friday 27th of October 2017 at Yas Island Park with a great fervor. After the Friday morning Holy Mass, all people numbering approximately 300 were gathered near the picnic site. The Picnic was started as per scheduled time by 9 a.m. with prayer led by Br. Robert Cardin and Rev. Fr. Ashok Gonsalves, Spiritual Director of Konkani Community blessed the congregation. Br. Robert Pinto welcomed all the gathering and appreciated their support for all their events and requested them to continue the same for their future events also.

 

Immediately after the opening prayer, traditional breakfast was served to  all gathered and immediately after the breakfast Cultural secretary Mr. Lawrence D’Souza has formed 10 groups and provided all group-wise badges for identification. To warm up the people, first balloon game was started and all people both young and old participated in the game. In addition to this several other games were conducted like passing the balloon filled with water, Passing the ring, Longest human chain, filling the water bottle, Queen of sheeba etc. The highlights of the games were" tug of war "and "breaking the earthen pot" which is tied at a height of 9 ft. People enjoyed all the games and appreciated the efforts of the organizers.

 

The special guest of this Picnic is the presence of Rev. F. Annie Xavier, Parish Priest of St. Paul’s Church, Mussafah who blessed the food and appreciated the community activities for the benefit of all.  Immediately after the food, "Housie-Housie" game was played which was conducted by Suresh Saldanha and a good number of gifts were distributed to the winners.

 

 

A member of the Yas Island Park Management Mr. Ali was felicitated for his cooperation as he was a great help to the organizers in providing the permission for picnic as well as assisting in providing generator.

 

Immediately after Housie-housie, games were resumed once again and all groups participated. At the end of the session, a common theme was given to all groups with 5 minutes time limit and they were asked to perform instantly without any preparation. All groups were participated and prizes were distributed to the winning group. In between around 3.30 pm tea-coffee with snacks were served to all participants which is enjoyed and refreshed all participants.

 

In addition to this, lots of other prizes, consolation prizes were distributed to the participants. There was a special lucky prize winner as against the ticket and the Lucky winner has been given the prize. The final attraction of the picnic was Kabaddi match played between the Volunteers which is enjoyed by all.

 

Robert Pinto thanked all the people, sponsors and volunteers for their support. The picnic was concluded with prayer lead by Rev. Fr. Ashok Gonsalves and all people recited Laudate Domino praising the lord for this wonderful day. All people both young and old enjoyed the day and it was a memorable day to spend with families and friends. Picnic came to an end approximately at 5:30 pm and it was a fun filled memorable day enjoyed by all.