Monthi Fest Celebrated with Devotion and Joy at St. Antony Church, Anthonykatte

September 8, 2026: St. Antony Church, Anthonykatte, celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Nativity (Monthi Fest) with great devotion, joy and community spirit. The celebration brought together parishioners, families, children, youth, altar servers, choir members and parish associations.

The traditional blessing of the newly harvested paddy stalks (Novem) was held with devotion in front of the Mother Mary Grotto. The blessed Novem symbolised God’s blessings, the fruits of the harvest and gratitude for the abundance provided by nature. Following the blessing, a solemn procession to the church was held with the participation of the faithful.

The spiritual highlight of the celebration was the Solemn Eucharistic Celebration, with Rev. Fr. Francis Rodrigues, Parish Priest, as the main celebrant. The faithful participated prayerfully in the Holy Mass, offering thanksgiving to God and seeking the blessings and protection of Infant Mary.

The feast marked the culmination of the nine-day Novena in honour of Infant Mary. Through the novena and feast celebrations, families came together in prayer and thanksgiving, strengthening their faith and community bonds.

Monthi Fest is not only a Marian feast but also an important harvest thanksgiving celebration of the Konkani Catholic community. The tradition of blessing and distributing Novem reflects gratitude for the harvest and reminds everyone of the importance of respecting nature, valuing family traditions and preserving cultural heritage.

The celebration was enriched by the enthusiastic participation of the faithful, altar servers, choir, youth and various parish associations. Floral offerings to Infant Mary and melodious hymns added beauty and devotion to the occasion. The active participation of children brought additional joy and liveliness to the celebration.

A special Food Fiesta was organised, offering a variety of breakfast items. The gathering provided an opportunity for families and friends to share food and fellowship. Special gift boxes were also distributed to the children, making the celebration particularly memorable for the young members.

The parish expressed its sincere gratitude to Mr. Roy Prakash Simson and Family, the main sponsors of the day, for their generous support and contribution towards the successful celebration.

The Monthi Fest celebration at Anthonykatte concluded on a joyful note, beautifully reflecting the values of faith, gratitude, family togetherness, cultural heritage and parish unity, while seeking the continued blessings and protection of Infant Mary.