The Goinkar’s Own Academy celebrates the Feast of St Francis Xavier at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Karachi, on December 3.
The Feast of St Francis Xavier was celebrated by Goans with traditional enthusiasm and fervour at two different events in Karachi on December 3 and 4.
GOINKAR’S OWN ACADEMY
The Goinkar’s Own Academy (GOA) celebrated the Feast of St Francis Xavier, commonly known as Goencho Saib, with a Solemn High Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Karachi, on December 3.
The Eucharistic Celebration began with the Rosary. Introductory and closing prayers were recited by Belinda Caeiro, Konkani decades by Susan D’Costa and English decades by Kathy Fernandes.
The main celebrant was Archbishop of Karachi Benny Travas, and concelebrants were Fr Ryan Joseph, Fr Anthony Martis, Fr Shahzad Peter, Fr James Borg, Fr Mario Rodrigues and Fr Christopher Zeeshan.
In his homily, Archbishop Travas reflected on the life of St Francis Xavier, who is universally known as the Patron Saint for Missionaries.
Archbishop Travas said St Xavier had the ability to adapt to regions he preached in, along with their languages. He could be described as a ‘people’s person’ and could easily mix with people irrespective of social class, belief or race, finding the goodness in all whom he came in contact with.
Archbishop Travas invited the congregation to have the same missionary zeal as St Xavier had, to see the goodness in others and to go into the periphery to the poor and rejected in society.
The Konkani and English Choirs of St Anthony’s Church led the congregation in the hymns. Melba Pinto and Bella Coelho were incharge of the choir, while Aloysious Soares led the choir on Feast Day. The musicians included Dr Patricia Mendes (Keyboard), Nolasco Moniz (Guitar), Farooq Suleman and Russell Fernandes (violins).
At the end of the Eucharistic Celebration, the GOA invited the faithful to partake in the refreshments.
A dinner was hosted by the GOA Committee for Archbishop Travas and the co-celebrants along with the Nuns from St Joseph’s Convent, Sisters of St Paul’s Bookshop, some benefactors and the choir. Some popular Konkani songs were played in the background, giving a festive aura to the environment.
Joe Caiero was the MC for the get-together. There was a round of tombola. Sorpotel and Sannas, Chicken Qorma, Peas Pullao and Pinagr were prepared by the GOA committee members.
KARACHI GOAN ASSOCIATION
The Karachi Goan Association celebrates the Feast of St Francis Xavier at its Club Hall in Karachi with Holy Mass on December 4.
The Feast of St Francis Xavier was celebrated at the Karachi Goan Association (KGA) Club Hall in Karachi with Holy Mass on December 4 at 7 pm.
The main celebrant was Archbishop of Karachi Benny Travas and the congregation comprised KGA members and a few guests.
While the Mass was in English, some of the readings and hymns were in Konkani language were read and sung by a few members of the KGA Club and St Patrick’s Choir.
The get-together at the KGA Club Hall began with traditional boiled gram with coconut slices served to the gathering.
KGA Entrainment Secretary and Master of Ceremony Marshall Fernandes set the programme rolling with the introduction of upcoming and seasoned singers, each one rendering memorable Konkani songs, much to the appreciation of the members.
As a token of appreciation, special commemorative awards with certificates were handed out to the families of the deceased members of the past Managing Committee. The positions held by them were late Maurice Coutinho (former president of KGA Club), late Cajetan Rodrigues (former general secretary of KGA Club) and late John D’Sa (former secretary of Football KGA Gymkhana).
KGA President Lenny Dias presented the awards and certificates to their families and touched upon the dedicated contributions made by the three deceased members during their tenures at the KGA Club and Gymkhana.
Similarly, the Konkani singers (upcoming and seasoned) were handed appreciation awards with certificates. Marshall Fernandes spoke a few words on each individual’s contribution to the continuation of Konkani songs and music in Karachi.
Lenny Dias handed over the awards and certificates to Melba Pinto for her dedicated contribution over the years to promote Goan culture at the Karachi Goan Association Club, while Deborah Santamaria, Marshall Fernandes, Melanie Nazareth and Raymond Anthony Pinto were commended for their contributions to Goan identity at the Karachi Goan Association Club.
Upcoming Konkani stars Lovita Fernandes, Duane Fernandes, Liberatta Pinto, Miguel Nazareth and Dylan Fernandes were honoured for promoting Goan Culture through Konkani Music at the Karachi Goan Association Club.
Special cakes were given to St Patrick’s Choir for the Hymns sung during the Holy Mass and Entertainment evening, DJ music group comprising Anslem Fernandes, Christopher Rangel and Selwyn Fernandes for the Oldie Goldie songs and music; KGA Hall Secretary Richard Almeida for his dedicated support towards BINGO (Tombola) weekly evenings and KGA General Secretary Gavin D’Lima for his management at the Club and Gymkhana.
Leslies Rodrigues (KGA Trustee) and Lenny Dias (KGA President) appreciated the continuous efforts of Jonathan Rodrigues (Cricket Secretary at the KGA Gymkhana), especially since the KGA Cricket Team won several major tournaments played at the KGA Gymkhana and at other venues in Karachi.
