Report by Janet D’souza
Photographs by Ivan Lobo

COVID-19 is one of the most calamitous threats the world has ever experienced or faced.  The world and its people plunged into depths of despair, unbearable loss, perilous uncertainty, and crisis.  And yet, amidst these cataclysmic times, we saw strong signs of hope, resilience, solidarity, and a need for togetherness. 

One such beacon of hope is the Mangalorean Association of Canada (MAC). Recognizing the need for a community to come together to celebrate new beginnings and a new normal, MAC, with renewed vigor and enthusiasm and within the parameters of the pandemic health guidelines, celebrated Monthi Fest Mass on September 12, 2021 at St Maximilian Kolbe Parish, Mississauga.  Monthi Fest or the Nativity of our Lady has been an integral celebration in our lives, evoking wistful memories and nostalgia of a rich tradition and solemn customs such as blessing of the rice grains, aromatic fresh flowers, organic vegetables and families bonding over a vegetarian meal.

John D’Souza, our versatile Cultural Coordinator, welcomed the gathered congregation and summarized the flow of the religious ceremonies.  Gerry D’Mello, an ardent supporter of MAC officiated the traditional, visually eye-catching flower offering ritual.  Young children, each carrying a beautiful flower walked in a procession and placed their offering in honour of Mother Mary to the resonating tunes of “Sokkod Sangatha Mellyam” and “Moriyek Hogolsiyan”.  The main celebrant of the Mass, Fr. Roshan D’Souza, transported the faithful to the days of their youth in hometowns in India simply by virtue of his poignant yet commanding voice.  Fr. Henry Alva, with his impassioned homily filled us with hope for a better future and spiritual enlightenment.   Fr. Andrew Lewis and Deacon Sarfraz Pinto were co-celebrants of this Mass.  The melodious choir, led by the supremely talented Merlyn Rodrigues, sang from the depths of their hearts thrilling every single listener with their melody and arrangements. 

Our sponsors are our pillars, our source of encouragement and motivation.  Their sponsorship helps to sustain and fund numerous community activities and events.  The Mass Muddhom was offered by Vincent and Prescilla Machado and family who are and continue to be committed supporters of MAC.  Numerous sponsors stepped forward without hesitation and generously championed Monthi Fest and contributed both towards the Mass and the scholarship awards.  As a gesture of respect and appreciation to our sponsors, MAC distributed blessed candles to all the sponsors. 

MAC unequivocally agrees that education is of paramount importance in developing a global perspective, building and articulating opinions, shaping new technologies and exploring opportunities beyond imagination. The youth of our community are our legacy and an investment in this legacy is immeasurable.  The MAC Scholarship Program awards two first year entrants into university or college a sum of money based on several criteria such as academics, extra curricular activities, volunteer work, awards, and work experience.  The 2021 winners of the Scholarship Program were Seneca Rego and Jane D’Souza, both incredibly talented youngsters with a great and bright future.  Seneca Rego was awarded CAD 1000 and the award was presented by Flavian and Miriam Pinto.  Jane D’Souza was awarded CAD 500 and the award was presented by Reginald and Mary Fernandes.

The Monthi Fest Mass ended with the distribution of Novenm to all families, chocolates for the children and light refreshments for all attendees.  Our sincere appreciation to the committee members, their families and the selfless volunteers who came together in camaraderie and harmony demonstrating the power of hope, courage, perseverance, and community spirit. 

Click below for pictures:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/kMpiwMStprEyxViSA

Please mark the following dates as placeholders for 2021:

Thank you all for your support in 2020.

As we roll up our sleeves to start 2021 we want to request you to continue with your support by attending our major events this year.

Please mark your calendars for the following dates:

MAC AGM 2021 – NOV 2021 – date and time will be posted soon

Our Konkani Mass celebration will continue as before and will be celebrated on the 2nd Saturday of every month. A reminder will be sent by email.

Our Association needs the support of its members to survive the challenges we face. We urge each and every member to reach out to the Executive committee to voice your opinion as well as share ideas on what we can do to help make our Association stronger.

In closing, we wish you all the best in 2021.

Report by Gerry D’Mello

Pics: Ronald D’Souza

As part of Christmas celebration, Mangalorean Association of Canada (MAC), which comprises of the Konkani Catholic Community of Greater Toronto, organized ‘Christmas Concert and Party’ with joy and splendor at Sts Martha and Mary Parish in Mississauga on December 14.

The grand celebration began with the High Mass in Konkani celebrated by Fr Edwin D’Souza, the spiritual director of MAC and Fr Henry Alva OFM Cap., the Provincial of the Franciscan Capuchins of ‘Mary Mother of Good Shepherd’ province, in the region of English speaking Canada.

The church reverberated with the voices of the faithful and the magnificence and significance of the Christmas festival was evident in the significant crowd gathered. The walls of the church resonated with the mellifluous singing of the Konkani choir conducted by Merlyn Rodrigues and the music accompaniment by Lester Rodrigues and Wilson D’Souza. The homily delivered by Fr Henry Alva was very enlightening and thought provoking. He gave a clarion call to create a Crib in the hearts for the birth of Christ to enjoy love, joy and peace of Baby Jesus.

At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, Manohar Pais, the dynamic president of MAC delivered the vote of thanks. He thanked the clergy, the Choir, the members of the executive committee and all those who supported in making the event a grand success. He also thanked the sponsors and volunteers for their time, selfless sacrifices and energy during the year 2019.

The highlight of the programme, after the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, was a Christmas tableau that was presented by MAC children of various age groups directed by Nina Crasta and Suneetha D’Souza. Each child is to be commended for their unique accomplishment as the Tableau was a resounding success and appreciated by all. Rony D’Souza, the spiritual coordinator, ensured that the programme ran smoothly and was seamless.

The Christmas party celebration commenced at the party hall with a hearty welcome that was extended to an overwhelmingly full hall by the emcee, John D’Souza. With his charming and inimitable style, John built a rapport with the audience. The MAC members and guests were treated with Christmas carols, games, gifts, Christmas cake and delicious snacks. Children were overjoyed to receive gifts from Santa.

Manohar Pais and his support team organized the event meticulously and to perfection.

Click below for pictures:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rYi2NJHJryjogDuu5

Report by Janet D’souza
Photographs by Ivan Lobo

“Monthi Fest” or the Nativity of our Lady kindles and evokes a flood of sentimental and wistful memories in the minds of the Konkani Catholic community within Canada – recollections of succulent sugarcane, red sticky homemade candy, fresh flowers, scrumptious organic vegetables and so on. Through many generations, the harvest festival has evolved to embrace solemn customs and folk traditions such as the blessing of the rice kernels, showering of flowers to Infant Mary, consuming the grains of the new harvest in a cup of milk or sweet “Vorn”, and serving an odd number of vegetarian dishes at the festive meal. Monthi Fest is an intrinsic part of the Konkan culture as it celebrates not only the harvest and hard work by the farmers but also emphasizes the significance of the birthday of our dear Mother Mary.

The Mangalorean Association of Canada (MAC) celebrated “Monthi Fest” on Sunday, September 8, 2019 with devotion and grandeur befitting our Mother Mary at St Maximilian Kolbe Parish, Mississauga.  John D’Souza, Cultural Coordinator, welcomed the faithful and quickly summarised the flow of religious events.  A solemn procession of little children carrying trays of beautiful flowers entered the hall and they enthusiastically offered flowers in honor of Mother Mary to the lilting tunes of “Sokkod Sangatha Mellyam” and “Moriyek Hogolsiyan”.  As this ceremony ended, people walked with deep devotion accompanied by the choir to celebrate the Konkani mass.   While Rev. Fr. Henry Alva, the main celebrant led the mass, Fr. Roshan D’Souza’s evocative and passionate homily stirred the hearts and minds of the congregation.  The co-celebrants of this mass were Fr. Edwin D’Souza, our Spiritual Director who blessed and distributed candles to all sponsors, Fr. Baptist D’Sa, Fr. Denis D’Souza, Fr. Andrew Lewis and Fr. Boniface Furtado.  Sr. Ferdinanda, our most ardent supporter attended the religious ceremonies as well as the cultural program.  The Eucharistic celebrations were made even more exceptional as the rafters of the church resonated with the effortless and harmonious choir led by the immensely talented Merlyn Rodrigues.  Gerry D’Mello, multi talented Konkani writer and strong supporter of MAC welcomed the congregation at the beginning of the Holy Mass and thanked all those who supported the church ceremony, at the end.

The cultural program commenced at Pope John Paul II hall with some snacks and a heartfelt welcome by the dynamic and incomparable President of MAC, Manohar Pais.  Manohar highlighted the prominence of Monthi Fest in our culture, thanked the clergy, sponsors, volunteers and performers for their abundant generosity, invaluable support, valuable time and energy and then introduced two outstanding and gifted youngsters, Juan D’Souza and Linton Pinto.  Juan and Linton were the emcees of the Monthi Fest cultural program and they were shining stars who lit up the stage with their wit, enthusiasm and innate bond with the audience.  The program encompassed magnificently written and acted comedy skits, exquisite traditional and contemporary dances in striking costumes, captivating songs transporting the audience in reminiscent journeys to their hometowns and symphonic band music by enthusiastic and talented youngsters.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Everybody can be great.  Because anybody can serve.  You don’t have to have a college degree to serve.  You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know a second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve.  You only need a heart full of grace.  A soul generated by love.”  This is what Merlyn Rodrigues; our celebrated choirmaster exemplifies and practices.  Quietly and fervently working in the shadows, Merlyn has brought forth music that has touched hearts, uplifted souls and provided an unparalleled serenity lifting listeners to another dimension. In recognition of Merlyn’s numerous contributions, MAC instituted an award to honor her during the Monthi Fest celebrations, a ceremony that was skillfully and graciously conducted by Manohar Pais.  Merlyn was bestowed a framed “Letter of Distinction” in Konkani, a Plaque and gorgeous silk shawl by present and past presidents of MAC as a mark of respect and tribute.

Education contributes to economic success, personal growth, awareness, understanding and nation-building.  The Mangalorean Association of Canada uses its resources to impact and influence the lives of students seeking higher education.  The youth in our community are an indispensable part of our future and legacy and in support of this investment, the Scholarship Program was established.  The 2019 winners of the Scholarship Program were Terence D’Souza and Cassandra D’Cunha.  Terence was awarded CAD 1000 and Cassandra was awarded CAD 500 and both are talented youngsters with an incredible work ethic and priorities and determined focus on their career paths.  The sponsors of the top scholarship award were Vincent and Prescilla Machado, committed supporters of the association.  Both have generously championed events such as the Annual Social and the Monthi Fest for the past three years.  The sponsors of the second scholarship award were Reginald and Mary Fernandes, dedicated supporters of the program since its inception.  Both have stood by the association and volunteered their time, energy and skills.

Dinner was a splendid array of delicious vegetarian delicacies such as Pothrade, vegetarian cutlets, pasta, lentils, pickles, okra, black chickpeas and the eagerly anticipated and awaited “Vorn”, a concoction of lentils, coconut milk, jaggery and cashews.  Konkan Delite surpassed all expectations with their catered meal and the guests commended the quality and taste of this authentic Mangalorean meal.  The Monthi Fest celebrations ended with Laudate and the cheers of a satisfied audience.  A resounding salute and thanks to the participation and selfless commitment of the Executive Committee, organizers and volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this event an astounding success.

Click below for pictures:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/bdQmki7B2mi9XYHP8