Mangalore: Monti Fest celebration in St.Lawrence Church, Bondel

By Simon Lasrado,Bangalore
Pictures by Vincent DCunha, Bondel
Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 12 September 2010: 8th September is a day of treble celebration for Mangalorean Konkani Catholics While we celebrate the birthday of our heavenly mother, this day is also observed to show our gratitude to God for the blessings He bestowed on us particularly by way of sufficient harvest. Moreover, it is a family feast, showing our unity and solidarity, it is the third celebration.

 

At 8:00 a.m. nearly 2000 devotees gathered inside of St.Lawrence Church, Bondel,Mangalore, where the grains representing the new harvest, were to be blessed. Rev. Anthony Michael Serrao, Parish Priest along with Rev. Fr. Ronald Pinto asst.Parish Priest and guest Priest Rev.Fr.Peter Paul Saldanha Professor in Jeppu Seminary, blessed the grains carried by Gurkars of the wards. After the children offered flowers to Mother Mary, jeep covered fully by flowers carrying the statue of Mother Mary, taken in a procession was led by Bondel Church Choir, parishioners, parish priest with other two priests and Traditional Harry Brass Band. Torrential heavy downpour prevented the procession a little while.

 

The main celebrant of the Mass held on the occasion of Monti Fest at St Lawrence Church, Bondel in the city was Fr Peter Paul Saldnaha the professor in St. Joseph’s Seminary Mangalore. Subsequently the Fr. Peter Paul Saldanha is promoted as a professor to Vatican. The Parish Priest Fr.Antony Michael Serrao and Asst parish priest Fr. Ronald Pinto also joined the main celebrant.

 

 

Fr. Peter Paul Saldanha gave a touching sermon and narrated the importance of a girl’s role in the family. He said being 8th September is Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary, there are three MOTHERS we should adore. First Our Mother Mary, 2ndly Our Mother Earth and thirdly a woman. Being a daughter, being a wife, being a Mother. And even Fr. Saldanha told the significance and importance of a girl child in the family.

 

As per the Monthi Festh tradition, these holy grains are mixed with the main meal of the day that includes varieties of vegetarian dishes, participated by the whole family, invoking Gods blessing before the meal. Members of the family, who could not join the meal are remembered, and those members of the family who have entered their heavenly abode are also remembered. Non-vegetarian dishes and alcohol are normally forbidden at this meal. Some of the holy grains are even sent to the family members working outside the native place, inland or overseas, symbolizing their presence at the meal.

 

After the solemn Mass those who came to the church greeted each other and the blessed corn were distributed by Gurkars and the Parish Priest and sugarcane were shared by the parishioners and their children voluntarily.