Abu Dhabi: St Joseph’s Konkani Community (SJKC), Abu Dhabi Parish, celebrated ‘Monti Fest’ on September 8, here at St Therese Church, within the compound of St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Abu Dhabi in a very grand manner.

More than 2,000 Konkani speaking Catholics took part in the celebrations. The celebrations began at 6.45 pm with children showering of flowers on a statue of Mother Mary, the blessing of the new corn which was specially flown in from Mangaluru, followed by the festal high mass. Rev. Fr. Darick D’Souza O.F.M.Cap from St. Annes’s Friary, Mangaluru was the main celebrant of the mass and Rev Fr. Densy Martis O.F.M. Cap from the Dubai Parish and Rev. Fr. Rodson Goes O.F.M. Cap, Spiritual Director of the Konkani Community were the concelebrants.

After the mass, donors were honoured by the spiritual director followed by a felicitation of the community students scoring 80% and above in the Secondary and Higher Secondary School Examinations held at Abu Dhabi in April 2018. The blessed new corn was distributed to the members.

The guest priests and spiritual director were honoured with a floral bouquet. The traditional “noven jevaan” was served with the new corn in milk and sugarcane was distributed.

As a preparation for the ‘Monti Fest’ celebration, a nine-day Novena was held with Holy Mass and a retreat was held by Rev. Fr. Darick D’Souza O.F.M. Cap.

SJKC Committee Coordinator Mr. Leo Rodrigues gave the vote of thanks at the end of the celebrations.