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NORTH BRUNSWICK — The tri-state Indian community came together to celebrate the annual Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary with colorful costumes, flowers and music at a Mass Sept. 10 at Our Lady of Peace Church.
About 300 Catholics of Indian descent attended the annual festival, also known as Monthi Fest, a celebration dating back to the 16th century in Goa, a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region.
The spiritual and cultural event was hosted by the Mangalorean Catholic Association of the East Coast, (MCA-EC). The festival is celebrated annually by the Latin Christian community of Konkani people, who originate from the Konkan region of India. According to MCA-EC, the history of Konkani dates back to 4,000 BC.
“We had guests from all over New Jersey, as well as New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and even Virginia,” said Father Michael G. Krull, pastor, Our Lady of Peace Parish, in a Facebook post. Last year’s Mass and festival were held at St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Somerset. The Mass and festival had to be canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 or coronavirus pandemic.
The Mass at Our Lady of Peace began with the procession of altar servers and traditional colorful dresses and umbrellas, followed by the Mangalorean Catholic Association leadership, the statue of the baby Mary to the entrance hymn, “Somthosan Somiya.”
Behind them were Father Robert Lasrado, who presided at the liturgy, and concelebrants, Father Augustine D’Souza of New York, who gave the homily; Father Ron Machado, Most Holy Name Parish, Perth Amboy; and Father Frederick Clement of Pennsylvania.
Deacon Francis D’Mello, Our Lady of Peace, and Deacon Glen Mendonca, of the Diocese of Trenton, assisted.
The infant with Mary statue was placed at the front of the altar. The Mass was accompanied by traditional Mangalorean hymns from a choir that had the congregation joining along in song throughout the festive celebration. The Mass included the traditional blessing by Father Machado of vegetables that were brought to the altar.
Flowers, which were distributed after the Mass to be placed at the statue of baby Mary in a separate ceremony, were also blessed by Father Machado.
The Gospel, Matthew 1:20, told how the Angel of the Lord appeared before Joseph in a dream, telling him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife into his home as the Holy Spirit has been conceived in her as their son who they are to name Jesus “because he will save his people from their sins.”
“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us,’” the Gospel says.
In his homily, Father D’Souza said Mary was “so faithful” that she put her “trust in the word of God.”
“The word of God should bring light in our lives…These are the people today who live in the presence of God,” he said. “And that’s why as Catholics we need to do better.”
He spoke about the Monthi Fest Indian tradition, especially in southern India, of bringing the family together and “coming together and forgiving one another and living with love” as they are taught by their Indian ancestors. He said by doing so, the Indian people can say “we are the people who live by the word of God.”
Before the closing hymn, Father Machado, spiritual advisor for MCA-ECA, thanked MCA president Shyna Quadras for her efforts for this year’s event.
“You know this is not easy [to organize],” he said in asking for applause for the organizers.
He encouraged the Indian community to support the Church and the association and to be active by becoming a lector or a member of the choir.
“Please let’s show that we are Indians and we can do something in the United States,” he said.
After the recessional, there was a flower offering in front of the church to Mother Mary followed by prayers led by Father Lasrado. Children tossed flower petals consisting of roses, marigolds and lilies on the baby Mary as the choir sang “Sokkodd Sangatha Melleam..Moriek Hogolsia,” the Mother Mary birthday and Managlorean Konkani song.
Tradition teaches that children offer flowers as a token of love for the mother of Jesus.
The celebration continued after the Mass with a traditional Mangalorean vegetarian lunch and cultural show.
