RAK: St. Antony’s Church celebrates nativity feast & commences services at new premises

By Dr. Zita Lobo
Pics by Noel Castelino
Bellevision Media Network

Ras Al Khaima, 09 Sep 2013: Nativity and harvest festival had a grand newness for the people of Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwwain this year. The newly harvested corn brought all the way from Mangalore was blessed in the presence of the infant Mary’s statue in the presence of the faithful gathered to celebrate ‘monti fest’.

 

With great enthusiasm flowers were ‘thrown’ with the ‘MoreakHogollsiam’ hymn reverberating the premises of the new St. Anthony’s Church in Al Jazeera in Ras Al Khaimah. The procession headed by revered Fr. Maxim Pinto, Asst. Parish Priest, RAK, Fr. Abraham D’souza of Divine Retreat Centre, Mulkiand Fr. Rodson Gomes of St. Michaeal’s, Sharjah, proceeded to the church.

 

 

Fr. Maxim concelebrated mass with Fr. Abraham and Fr. Rodson in the new church.

 

A lively cultural programme was compered by Mr. Ryan Mathias. Games, competitions and spot prizes created a family atmosphere where all the oldest and the youngest participated and enjoyed. Mr. Alex Crasta and his wife Grace were felicitated on the occasion for their unrelenting interest and leadership in parish activities. Mrs. Agnes Roche welcomed the guestsand LaveenaCastelino proposed the vote of thanks.

 

Fr. Thomas Ambuzzukutty, and all the priests along with the people enjoyed the sumptuous vegetarian meals with the traditional curries, pathrode, alu-dento etc.,was relished on the banana leaves. This tradition was kept by Noel Castelino  as every year Venus Restaurant’s.

 

The Konkani Community’s Nativity  celebration was the  first  mass of the  parish  in the newly consecrated St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church which was  kept  closed since consecration on June 14,  due  to lack of power. The church  formally opened for  regular  services that  day with a  solemn   Nativity Mass in English  concelebrated  by Revered Fr. Varghese Chempoly, Vice Provincial of Capuchins, St. Mary’s, Dubai, Fr. Thomas Ampattukuzhy, Parish Priest of RAK, Fr. Annie Xavier, Parish Priest  of St. Michael’s Church, Sharjah,,  Fr.Maxim Pinto  and Fr. Felicio Diniz of St. Michael’s Church, Sharjah.