Jebel Ali, UAE: ‘Monthi Fest’, the traditional feast celebrated largely by Mangalorean Catholics represents the birthday of our Blessed Mother Mary, coincides with festival of new harvest and is being celebrated all over the world every year with much fervor and enthusiasm.
In continuation of the traditional with great devotion, zeal and grandeur, Jebel Ali Assisi Konkani Community (JAKC) celebrated “Monthi Fest” (Nativity of the Blessed Mother Mary) on 6 September at 8:00 PM in St. Francis of Assisi Church, Jebel Ali.
The festive celebrations began at 7:45 PM in the church portico with the showering of flowers by the little children and congregation in honor of Blessed Mother Mary to the accompaniment of the choir singing popular Marian hymns ‘Sakkad Sangaata Melyaan / Moriek Hogolsiyan’. After the showering of the flowers, around 8:00 pm, the festooned church reverberated to the melodious singing of JAKC choir led by Nisha Sequeira and team. The Holy Eucharistic Mass in Konkani commenced with the procession accompanied by the main celebrant Fr. Maxim Cardoza (Asst. Parish Priest & Spiritual Director of Konkani Community, Jebel Ali), the altar servers, Eucharistic ministers, lectors and parishioners. Statue of Infant Mary and the new harvest — ‘paddy’ was brought to the altar in procession. At the beginning of the mass, paddy (Novem) symbolizing the new crop was blessed and prayed over in gratitude for a successful yield.
Fr. Maxim, in his soul-stirring homily preached about the values and life of Blessed Mother Mary and stressed upon the importance of family life and role of Blessed Virgin Mary in our families. Since this feast is also known as the ‘family feast’, he called upon families to spend time together in prayer as a family. Large number of faithful took part in the Solemn Eucharistic Celebration accompanied by melodious singing by JAKC choir group which elevated the festive spirit.
As the mass concluded, Fr. Maxim proposed the vote of thanks. He extended his gratitude to everyone who was responsible in making this event a great success. He also thanked all the Priests, Church staff, altar servers, Choir Members, Volunteers and all the who had been generous in contributing for the event.
Fr. Reinhold Sahner, Parish Priest of Jebel Ali church spoke on the occasion. He wished everyone a Happy Monthi Fest and said that he was happy to see such a large number of faithful attending the Eucharistic Celebration. He thanked the Konkani community for keeping the tradition alive.
“Noman Tuka soddvondarachye Maye’’ — A Konkani devotional music album by Mrs. Benny D’Souza was released on the occasion.
After the mass, a traditional yet scrumptious all vegetarian meal and delicious “Vorn” was served to all the people gathered, reviving the traditional ‘Novem Jevan’. The blessed paddy was distributed during the occasion.
Novena — In preparation for the feast, JAKC also organized 9-day Novena along with meaningful reflections by Fr. Maxim Cardoza. It was good to see many children attending the daily Novena and showering flowers to Mother Mary.
The whole event was well planned and managed under the direction and guidance of Fr. Maxim and JAKC coordinator Mr. Roydon Roche along with core committee members, ushers and volunteers. The arrangements were well appreciated by the people and evoked nostalgic memories of age-old traditional celebration of ‘Monthi Fest’ in our native homeland.
JAKC takes this opportunity to thank everyone for attending this feast and making this event a success and memorable.
