Abu Dhabi: The Konkani Community of St. Paul’s Catholic Church Mussafah, Abu Dhabi conducted their third Annual Family Picnic Day on Friday, November 16, at Yas Island Park, with a great fervour. After the Friday morning Holy Mass, people numbering approximately over 250, gathered at the picnic site.
The picnic started by 9:30 AM with a prayer led by Br. Suresh Saldanha and Rev. Fr. Wilson Rumao, Spiritual Director of Konkani Community blessed the congregation. John D’Lima, Main Coordinator of the community, welcomed the gathering and appreciated their support for all the events and requested them to continue the same for the future events.
Immediately after the opening prayer, a traditional breakfast was served to all. Games coordinator Lawrence D’Souza formed 12 groups and a warm-up balloon game was played by all participants. Later, several other exciting games such as passing the plate, balloon pick up, sack race, forming the number, run with cup and straw, eating the fruits, paper decoration, crosswords, breaking the earthen pot, plywood walker, water balloon etc., were held. But the highlights of the games were ”tug of war” and “breaking the earthen pot” which was tied at a height of 9 ft. to a tree. The people enjoyed all the games and appreciated the efforts of the organisers. In addition to this, lots of other games were conducted for children of different age groups. There was an exclusive game for the volunteers.
The special guest of the picnic was Rev. Fr. Ani Xavier, Parish Priest of St. Paul’s Church, Musaffah who praised the Konkani Community and picnic organisers for their efforts and blessed the food and appreciated their activities not only for the community but for the whole parish. A traditional lunch was the served around at 1.30 PM.
Immediately after lunch, the crossword game was played and prizes were distributed to the winners. The Maroon team, who came first, won a banana bunch (kelaincho godai). A member of the Yas Island Park Management, Ali was felicitated for his cooperation as he was a great help to the organisers in providing permission for the picnic as well as providing a generator.
Other games followed and the highlight of the evening session was the kabaddi match played between the groups. At the end of the session, paper decoration game was conducted and within a period of 10 minutes, different groups came up with novel ideas, picturizing Mother Teresa, different political leaders, Santa Clause, Mother Mary etc.
A Baila dance was performed as the final event of the day. All groups who cooperated throughout the day and the winning teams were given special prizes. At around 3.30 PM tea, coffee and snacks were served to all the participants. There was also a special lucky prize given to a lucky ticket holder.
John D’Lima thanked all the people, sponsors and volunteers for their support. The picnic was concluded with the recitation of the Laudate Dominum, praising and thanking the Lord for the wonderful day. The picnic came to an end at around 5.30 PM.
