Doha: Catholic Community celebrates annual feast of Our Lady of Rosary

By Jerald D’Souza
Bellevision Media Network

Doha/Qatar, 14 Oct 2017: The catholic community in Doha celebrated the annual feast of patroness Our Lady of the Rosary, with great devotion and fervor on Friday, October 6 evening.

 

A large number of faithful gathered around the altar in praising and thanking Lord for the gift of Our Lady of the Rosary as the patroness of the parish. Thousands of expatriates from various nationalities joined the celebration and made this event a memorable one.

 

 

The festal celebrations began with the Living Rosary animated by the altar boys at the main church, at 2.30pm. The festal Eucharistic Celebration was concelebrated by parish priest Fr Selvaraj Arockiam OFM Cap, along with resident priests and guest clergies including Fr Rally S Gonzaga, Fr Joy William and Fr Maurice.

 

In his homily, Fr Maurice assured the congregations the abundant graces of Mother Mary will help the faithful to overcome all the difficulties of daily living. 

 

Before final blessing, a brief felicitation programme was held to bid adieu to Fr Selvaraj Arockiam. The parish council vice president Nerry Alfonso read out the citation letter, highlighting the Fr Selvaraj’s service to parishioners for the last 13 years and development works at the church. The successor of Fr Selvaraj – Fr Rally S Gonzaga felicitated the former on the occasion.

 

Fr Selvaraj thanked all specially mentioning a few for their full co-operation during his tenure here and thanked all parishioners for their complete support.

 

After the Mass candle light procession of the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary which was beautifully decorated with colorful flowers was carried around the parish grounds.

 

A well-organized cultural program and food fiesta followed right after the Eucharistic Celebration at the parish grounds. The multi cultural Catholic Church of Qatar was once again filled with festive celebrations of cultural dances, songs and food. It was participated in by the various communities, languages and rites in the parish. The very lively emcees added life to the celebration with their natural talent of hosting a celebration.

 

Radge from Filipino community, the compere for the evening as usual was at his eloquent best keeping the gathering entertained with his witty comments and spot-on observations on the performances. Short skits, dances, songs along with spot games that were the part of the cultural evening kept the audience glued to their seats till the last.

 

 

The stall of Konkani speaking community comprising Mangaloreans and Goans. The Konkani speaking community food stall was the centre of attraction with traditional sanna-maas, quite of few south Indian chicken, mutton delicacies coupled with yummy desserts such as xira, khir etc. Ever enthusiastic Vivian D’Souza in cooperation and coordination with the Konkani Speaking Committee president and members put in efforts in putting up the food stall especially those who are single here in Doha and depend on hotel food had an opportunity to taste some of the home made dishes. There were other community food counters that provided an opportunity to taste various delicacies.

 

The church was decorated with beautiful festive lights. The church choir made the event even more beautiful with the melodious hymns. There were food counters that provided an opportunity to taste various delicacies. Music program was an added entertainment. The fiesta lasted until 10.00pm.

 

A week earlier, the preparation for the Feast Day of the Our Lady of the Rosary started on 26th September 2017 with the beginning of the daily Novena Masses presided by the guest preacher Fr Maurice, a daily recitation of the rosary, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was also held just before the Holy Mass. The daily novena Masses were an occasion much awaited daily by the faithful because of the very inspiring homily of Fr Maurice about the Blessed Mother. A block rosary organized by the Franciscan Youth and the Legion of Mary, was held on September 29 at the Seraphic Hall from 7.30am to 7.00pm, participated in by the different communities of the parish as part of the feast preparation. The parish priest Fr Rally S Gonzaga to all the parishioners for their involvement and support on the success of the celebration of the feast of the Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rosary.