Konkani Kutamb, SVP Church

Bengaluru, Sep 9: The annual feast of Nativity of mother Mary was celebrated at St Vincent Pallotti Church, Banasawadi, here with traditional gaiety and fervour on Sunday September 8.

The service in Konkani commenced at the church premises with blessing of newly grown sheaves of paddy corn by parish priest, Fr Manohar Josely Noronha. This was followed by children offering and honouring mother Mary with flowers and singing hymns in honour of her. Thereafter, the children along with priests and parishioners proceeded to the church in procession with blessed paddy corn and statue of infant Mary to celebrate holy mass.

The main celebrant during the eucharistic service was Fr Boniface Pinto, professor at Mangaluru St Joseph's Seminary, with co-celebrants Fr Manohar Josly Noronha, Fr Paul D'Souza (asst parish priest), Fr Edison (asst parish priest), Fr Ashok, and Fr John Paul. 

The homily on this occasion was delivered by main celebrant Fr Boniface Pinto on the day's theme 'Mary- Our Mother, the model of holiness for the family'.

Konkani Choir group ably supported the eucharistic service by singing melodious hymns during the service.

Parish priest Fr Manohar Noronha, thanked the main celebrant and co-celebrants for their presence and also greeted the parishioners on the occasion of Nativity feast of our mother Mary.

Vote of thanks was proposed by Cynthia Lobo at the end of the service acknowledging everyone's contribution and active participation in these celebrations, making it a memorable and meaningful one. Blessed corn was distributed to the parishioners at the end of the service.

This year's celebration was preceded by nine days Novena in preparation of Nativity feast. Members of each of the nine zones, animated each days Novena having its unique theme on the life of mother Mary with floral offering to her during the Novena. Parishioners brought food grains and other groceries in large number, as offering to be distributed to the poor and needy of the parish community at the end of the Novena.

The main attraction of this year's celebrations was cultural programme held at the church basement immediately after the service, followed by traditional vegetarian meal as part of fellowship among the people who participated in the celebrations. The gathering was welcomed by Konkani Kutamb's president Melson D'Souza. Various groups entertained the gathered parishioners with programmes that included dance, singing, skit and tableau. The MC of the day was Pramila. The vote of thanks was proposed by Gracian Tauro, past president of Konkani Kutamb.

Sugarcane was distributed to the children thereafter.