Konkani Liturgy Group of Borivali Celebrates Golden Jubilee

By Rons Bantwal
Bellevision Media Network

Mumbai, 14 Feb 2014: The members of Konkani Liturgy Group of Immaculate Conception (IC) Colony parish, Borivali, here celebrated their golden jubilee on Wednesday February 12.

 

Fr Simon D’Souza celebrated the Thanksgiving Mass along with Fr Nelson Saldanha and Fr Vincent Barboza at the parish, here on Wednesday morning.

 

A variety entertainment programme was held at Pope Paul Hall after the Holy Mass.

 

The highlight was a performance by senior citizens which kept the audience spellbound.

 

 

Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Mount Poinsor, Borivali, is one of the oldest church in the Archdiocese of Mumbai.  Fr. Antonio do Porto, a Franciscan missionary was the founder of the church in 1547.  He baptised villagers of Mount Poinsur, with his companion Fr Joao de Goa.

 

In 1964, a few Konkani speaking families of the parish expressed their love for the language and formed the Konkani Liturgy Group.  Initially, the group conducted prayer services and later put in efforts to start the Konkani Holy Mass on Sundays.  This attracted a large number of Konkani speaking families, who were residing in South Mumbai to shift to western suburb of Borivali.  By 1980 - 1990 the parish started expanding with the upcoming of IC Colony.  Presently around 4,000 Konkani speaking families are residing in the parish of IC parish.

 

The golden jubilee celebration was made possible with full support extended by the parish priest Fr Barthol Baretto, guidance of Liturgy Group director Fr Vincent Barboza, the enthusiasm of all the Liturgy Group members and the initiative taken by Charles D’Cunha, group leader and choir master for the past 15 years.