North America

Media Release

Vancouver, Sep 26, 2016 : The Mangalorean Community from Vancouver celebrated Monthi Fest this year on September 16 at the Immaculate Conception Church, Delta with great devotion by embracing the traditions that is followed in Mangaluru.

Fr Alwyn Sequeira along with Fr Steny Mascarenhas and Fr Melvin Pinto blessed the corn which was provided by Gaulbert and Ida Cordeiro. Ida Cordeiro's brother Dolphy D'lima and Irene D'lima have been regularly helping in sending out the new crop from India. The importance of the feast and the proceeding details were read out by Veena Pinto. The melodious choir, along with the crowd sang ‘Sakkad Sangatha Melyam’ and ‘Moriyek Hogolsiyan’ while adults and children in their festive best, holding single flowers and baskets of flowers respectively were happily showering flowers (Fula Udonche) to Mother Mary. This was followed by the procession to the church for the Holy Mass.

The feast Mass was celebrated by Fr Steny Mascarenhas. The Gospel was read by Fr Alwyn Sequeira who gave an amazing homily about the family. The mass readings were read by Tanya Pinto (English) and Diana Fernandes (Konkani); Prayer of the Faithful was read by Lance Monteiro and the offertory prayer was read by Lauren Monteiro. The hymns chosen and sung by the choir transported most of the people back to Mangaluru. The Mass was followed by a reception at the parish hall where it started with a prayer and the delicious ‘novem’ prepared by Erica Martis was served. The compere for the evening was Lance Monteiro who kept the crowd engaged and entertained with his impromptu spot prizes.

This year marked the centenary celebration of Our Lady of Fatima and this was very well presented in a short play enacted by Tanya Pinto, Trevor Pinto, Lauren Monteiro, Keiyona Tauro and Ruhin Tauro. The play was directed by Veena Pinto and narrated by Veena Pinto and Ranjana Tauro.

Vegetarian food was catered for this event as the committee decided it would be enjoyable for everyone to sit back and be part of the celebrations.

There was bingo which was engaging and entertaining hosted by Jeevan Tauro. The music and sound was handled by talented DJ for the evening, Jason Monteiro who made sure the music kept the crowd tapping their feet. For entertainment, there was Line dance organized by Lauren Monteiro followed by Baila.

A special thanks to the photographers Dimple and Darrel Saldanha, the entire choir team who put up a brilliant performance, the priests who brought a Mangalurean touch to the mass and to all the community members who attended and made this event a grand success!

All in all it was an evening to remember and the event was successful under the guidance of the committee members for the year 2016-2017 Jeevan and Ranjana Tauro, Lance and Joanne Monteiro, Ronald and Erica Martis and Paul and Veena Pinto.