Moodubelle: Monthi Festh celebrated with fervour and devotion

By Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Pictures by Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Netwok

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Moodubelle, 08 September 2011: In spite of heavy morning rains when the devotees of Mother  Mary were proceeding to the church to  attend the solemn Feast Mass, their spirit never dampened nor the resolve of the children with their flowers who thronged to the church.  As the parishioners entered the church, the Band of St. Lawrence English Medium School, welcomed the devotees playing tunes of Marian hymns which helped in spreading festive ambience within and outside the church.

 

Earlier, it was proposed to conduct the ritual of blessing the New Paddy   (Novem) on the Cross Hill, people going in procession and children showering flowers on the way back. However, the rainy atmosphere led to the last minute change in the plan and the New Paddy had to be blessed within the church in front of the main altar.

 

Children with flowers were made  to stand in three lines where as the members of the Parish Pastoral Council stood facing the congregation with bundles of New Paddy in their hands.  Before blessing the New Paddy, in his introductory message, Fr. Joswey Fernandes said that God has performed miracles in the fields and has blessed the farmers with bountiful crop and as such we should thank Him for this bounty on the day of the Feast of the Nativity of Mother Mary. He thereafter blessed the New Paddy following which “Moriyet Hogolshiyam ...” hymn was sung during which the children hoisted flowers  towards the enshrined statue of Infant Mary.

 

After clearing the flowers in front of the main altar, Fr. Joswey Fernandes along with Fr. Lancy Saldanha, Fr. Maxim Pinto (OFM-Cap) and Fr. Charles Menezes-National Director of YCS/YSM celebrated the Feast Mass. Fr. Paul Sequeira conducted the choir which rendered beautiful hymns in melodious tunes and impeccable voice.

 

 

The homily was delivered by Fr. Maxim Pinto, singing as an introduction the chorus of the famous Konkani song  by Wilfy Rebimbus, “Nama Thuka Bhagi Avoiponaa...” He said that since the last nine days we have been preparing for the Feast of the Nativity of Mother Mary  with children painstakingly bringing flowers and offering to Her.  Further, Fr. Maxim said that, Monthi Festh is the family feast and it is a feast of unity, love and sharing. While speaking about  the parents of Mother Mary-St. Anne and St. Joachim and later about the Holy Family of Jesus Mary and Joseph, Fr. Maxim asked the congregation to introspect about their own families. He said that each and every one of our parents have worked hard and sacrificed for our sake and this is the day that we should be grateful to our parents, especially mother. Mary is not only the mother of Jesus but all of ours.

 

The offertory procession was quite colourful  as the parishioners offered the bounty of nature right from flowers to vegetables, fruits and tender coconuts.

 

At the end of the Feast Mass, Fr. Joswey wished all the parishioner including those who are in other parts of the country and abroad a happy Monthi Festh. He also thanked all children who brought flowers on all ten days including the Feast Day and other parishioners  who had helped during the Novena days and Feast Day in various ways. He made a special reference to Gerald Fernandes and family who have been sponsoring sugarcane that is being distributed to the  children and adults as well.  He also thanked Mrs. Dulcin D’Sa of St. Francis Xavier I Ward for donating New Paddy to the parish.

 

Fr. Joswey Fernandes distributed prizes to the students who had won the competion in writing articles for the September volume of the parish magazine, "Suvaad". Mrs. Meera Lobo, editor of "Suvaad" read out the names. In this competition first prize was won by Prima Pereira of First Year PUC and Nismita D’Souza of eighth standard won the second prize. Consolation prizes were given to all the participants in the competition. 

 

Thereafter,  Fr. Joswey distributed New Paddy to the members of the  Parish Pastoral Council, who in turn distributed strands of the paddy to the parishioners as they were seated, an exercise that was quite smooth and fast. After the mass, the members of the ICYM helped in distributing sugarcanes to the children and later to the adults as well.

 

With New Paddy and sugarcane,  parishioners went back to their homes where the New Paddy was received with great respect and devotion and kept in front of the altar with candles burning. Before having the purely vegetarian meal in the noon along with the family members (Novem Jevann) the peeled corn of the paddy will be mixed in ‘payasam’ (vorn) and consumed, thanking God for the good crop.

 

Bellevision wishes all the readers and supporters a Happy Monthi Festh.

 

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