Rons Bantwal
Mumbai, Sep 8: The Konkan Association Charitable Trust (KACT) celebrated the Nativity of Mother Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, as part of its 29th anniversary on Monday at the Vincent Pallotti Church Hall, Marol, Andheri East.
At the beginning, Fr Andrew Roshan Alva (Farla, Bantwal), assistant parish priest of Vincent Pallotti Church, invoked Mother Nature with a thanksgiving prayer, led the devotion to Mother Mary, blessed the new paddy sheaves, and invoked blessings upon the faithful.
In a simple felicitation programme led by KACT president Leo Fernandes Jerimeri, the parish priest of Vincent Pallotti Church, Fr Victor Martis (Maril, Puttur), graced the occasion as the chief guest. Other guests on the dais included Fr Andrew Roshan Alva, model bank director Clement A Lobo (Nakre), veteran stage artiste Francis Fernandes Cassia, Divo Konkani Weekly editor Lawrence Coelho, secular citizen Weekly Publisher Suzanna L Coelho, real estate agent Paul Mascarenhas, entrepreneur Stanley Mathias, St John Konkani Community Marol (SJKC) president Sunita Sooares, Maharashtra Konkani Bhasha Mandal treasurer Melwyn Fernandes. William D’Souza, president of Vakola Cho Talo (Santa Cruz), delivered the festive message.
Special invitees included retired principal Philomena C Lobo, entrepreneur Michael Monteiro (Amboli), social workers Flora D’Souza (Kalmadi), Claudy Francis Montero (Marol), Leena Lasrado (Marol), and several other dignitaries.
KACT vice president Walter D’Souza (Kalmadi), secretary Peter Rebeiro, treasurer Pritesh Castelino, joint secretary Vincent Castelino, and committee members Gregory Monis, Ida M Monteiro, Roshan Serao, John Rodrigues, BC Alva, Anita Soares, George Chettiar, and many others were present. The office-bearers honoured the guests with floral bouquets. President Leo Fernandes Jerimeri welcomed the gathering, compared the programme, and highlighted the significance of the feast. Vincent Castelino proposed the vote of thanks.
Members and children presented musical performances. The first harvest was blessed, and a traditional vegetarian meal prepared with the newly blessed paddy was served in memory of Mother Nature. The feast began with a meal first served to the children of Navjyothi Ashram, marking the opening of the annual Monti Fest celebration.