Feast of Nativity of Mary in Bahrain

Bahrain’s Konkani catholic community celebrated monthi-fest, Mother Mary’s birthday in grand style on 12 September. This year, a 9 day novena was started

for the first time and was attended by over 300 konkani community parishioners.

The Novena was followed by the feast mass on Friday which was witnessed by over 1500 people.

Parish priest, Fr Thomas Quadros, with the other Mangalorean priest in the church, Fr Vincent, blessed the paddy, along with the statue of Mary the child.

The children offered their flowers to Mary as the choir sang the traditional hymns.

After the offering of flowers, feast mass was held in the Bishop Trinanzi Auditorium and was concelebrated by Fr Thomas. Fr Vincent gave his sermon to

make the audience feel at home for this harvest feast. For the over 1,500 people in the auditorium, it was indeed a thrilling experience.

The choir helped the devotees to participate in the mass meaningfully.

After the mass, the priests and the nuns were on the stage and the people sang happy birthday to mother Mary. The short cake cutting ceremony followed,

where visiting Sr Dr Lydia Fernandes, Vice Provincial Superior of the AC congregation of Karnataka joined Fr Thomas and Fr Vincent in cutting the cake.

A short cultural program was held, amidst some singing, a skit titled, Fudaracho Nirdhaar was played. The artistes provided entertainment to the audience

with a strong and occasion-based theme. Hilary Tellis, a coordinator of the Konkani Group carried out the whole program as the Master of Ceremony.

Charles D’Almeida remembered all the well wishers in his thanks giving speech.

All the costs of the event were covered through support from various well wishers who donated whole heartedly and extended all their support as truly one

community. A raffle draw was held in which prizes donated by well wishers were given away. At the end, but not at all the least, a pure vegetarian meal was

served for over 900 people that stayed till the dinner time.

During the 9 days of novena, hundreds of devotees of this traditional feast, prepared themselves religiously during the evening mass and novena prayers and all

were given snacks and sweets after the mass.