St. Francis Xavier Fest Celebrated by QGA

St. Francis Xavier Fest Celebrated by QGA - Quebec Goan Association (Montreal)

SFX - Hymn sung by Sharon & Chorus by Sharon Mazarello Goa


Article written by Mrs. Lydia D'Souza, Video by Kevin Silveira

On Saturday December 3rd 2011 the feast day of Saint Francis Xavier the patron saint of  Goa was celebrated by the Quebec Goan Association, Montreal Chapter.  The sponsors of the feast were Noel and Annette Rodriguez and family.  The event as always, started with Holy Mass celebrated by Fr. Francis McKee and assisted by Fr. Angelo Filnto.  In his homily Fr. Francis Mckee emphasized that what we should take away from the life of Goa’s patron saint was the love that he had for God and Church which led him to travel under extremely difficult conditions to far away corners of the world.

The choir led by Leticia Rodrigues and Joe Fernandes sang some beautiful hymns in Konkani with our young members participating in the readings and intentions.

After Mass, the celebrations continued in the Church hall and there was an enthusiastic crowd of approximately 200 people in attendance.  The social evening started with a beautiful rendition of Canada’s National Anthem in Konkani that was pre-recorded by Sharon Mozaralla for this occasion.  During the evening there was a lively musical skit in Konkani presented by Antonio and Blanche DaCosta and our talented youth presented us with a colourful fashion show.  Entertaining music was provided through the evening by Alain Rivard.

An Award Ceremony followed with Award Certificates presented to a number of individuals in recognition of their service to the Quebec Goan Association; notable amongst these is Mr. Felix D’Sa an outstanding life member and a past President and always a passionate supporter and contributor to the successful functioning of the Quebec Goan Association.  All life members were also recognized by the Association.

The evening had an element of fun and entertainment and the event was very well organized by the hard working committee members captained by the President of QGA Mrs. Mary Silveira.  Both young and old participated and enjoyed the event which was a great success.

Our thanks to all who worked hard to make this event a success and as always the Goans look forward to celebrating future feasts of Saint Francis Xavier with the Quebec Goan Association.

St. Francis Xavier Feast - Quebec Goan Association 03-12-2011

Quebec Goan Association  - Montreal  St. Francis Xavier Feast Celebration
 
The  QGA  would  like  to  announce  that  preparations  are  well  underway  for  the  Saint  Francis  Xavier's  Feast  and  we  look  forward  to  having  you, your  family  and  friends  join  us  in  celebrating  this  very  special  and  auspicious  Feast  of  our  homeland.
 
We  wish  to  remind  you  that  this  year  Mass  will  be  held  in  the  Hall  at  exactly  6:00pm. Please  make  sure  to  purchase  your  tickets  between  the  15th  of  October  and  20th  of  
November  and  no  later  as  they  will  not  be  sold  at  the  door.
 
On  behalf  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  I  wish  you  all  a  very  Happy  Thanksgiving  and  may  you  be  blessed  to  be  surrounded  by  your  loved  ones.

Dev  Borem  Korum,
Mary Silveira
President - QGA
 

See also menu below:
 
Menu
Adult : Snacks, Dinner and Desert 
Kids  : 5yrs to 12yrs same menu like the Adult 
Kids under 5yrs will be served Chinese style Noodle mixed with chicken, veg and eggs.
 
Menu for Snack plate
1.  1-Samosa
2.  1-Patties
3.  2-Chetney Sandwich
4.  2-Bajas
5.  1-Dall pakoda
 
Dinner  
Pulao  
Sorpotel  
Chicken Tikka with gravy   
Channa masala dry with Zucchini and Potatoes  
Pasta salad  
Ceasar salad
 
Desert  
Mango Moose  
Baath

World Goa Day Picnic - Quebec Goan Association, Montreal 21-08-2011

QUEBEC GOAN ASSOCIATION

WORLD GOA DAY PICNIC 2011

Armando, Valentine, Jonathon, Zia, Edwin, Mary, Sophie, Luiza, Norman, Edda, Tony

11th World Goa Day Picnic

As the saying goes, come hail, snow or rain the show will still go on, this is exactly what happened at the annual Goa day picnic held at Agrignon Park. In spite of the heavy downpour on Saturday August 21st, a large number of people showed up at the park.

The day began with a game of Bingo that was thoroughly enjoyed by all present. Gifts donated by the members of the association were provided as prizes for the winners for each games played. During Bingo, delicious snacks were passed around.

Just prior to lunch time, Father Victor offered a mass for all the members of the Quebec Goan Association. The members took an active part in the Eucharistic celebration either by participating in the readings, the intentions and the singing. Right after mass, certificates were awarded to the members who had taken part in the different contest organized by the Global Goan  Award Committee.


Cooking is what the Goans are good for… and indeed the spicy yet pleasant aroma of the lovely food that was being heated surely made the palate of all present water. There was a magnificent spread of Goan fish curry that was hit that rainy afternoon. Beside the fish curry, the picnic table was covered with food from spicy sorpotel, gourmet vindaloo, delectable daal and unda (egg) curry to chicken curry, variety of shrimp dishes to name a few.

Due to the unpredictable weather condition, the chai (tea) was something that one and all thoroughly enjoyed together with a table full of mouth watering desserts.

Towards the end of the evening Luiza D’sa (Dir.) one of the committee members distributed a plant to all who were at the picnic spot, this was surely a gesture of thanks to all who made the day an exciting one and of course the huge amount of photographs taken that day is a proof of how we all enjoyed ourselves at the Angrignon Picnic.

Neville Lyall  (Member)

Sophie and Yours truly

Members

Brendon, Ryan, Flora(V.P.), Mary(Pres.), Luiza (Dir.), Iona (Dir), Amber,  Felix, Shannon, Rich

Youth .... Flora, Mary, Luiza and Rich

 

Mary and Armando

Melanie (Secretary) & Amanda

Fiona(Director), Yours Truly Melanie (Secretary)

Armando, Amanda and Mary

San (did the poster),  Mary

Luiza,Edwin,Alloysius,Armando,Flora,Mary, Jacinta,Blanche, Hycintha,Valentine(Treasurer),Neville, Antonia

Edwin,Alloysius,Armando,Flora,Mary, Jacinta,Blanche, Hycintha,Valentine(Treasurer),Neville, Antonia

Fiona(director) Fr. Victor and Neville

Fr. Victor and Neville

 

Neville.Amber, Luiza (Dir.), Mary (Pres.), Fr. Victor, Flora(V.P), Fiona(Sect.), Valentine(Tres), Jacinta, showing off their Global Goan Awards

Armando and Edwin

Luiza,Mary, Fr.Flinto, Armando, Fr.Victor, Cathal, Flora(V.P)Valentine (Tres)

Fiona..(Dir.), Luiza, Mary, Fr.Flinto, Armando, Antonia, Fr.Victor,Cathal, Flora(V.P),Valentine ( Tres)

 

Fr. Victor Bless the Goan Cuisine

Sophie, Mary, Edwin

Edwin and Armando getting our Goan Cabin

Norman Mary and Felix.... The one who started the WGD in Montreal

World Goa Day Picnic group

World Goa Day Picnic group

Youth and Mary

World Goa Day Picnic group

 

Jacinta showing off her award, Mary, Mervyn, Hyci, Neville, Edwin,Evelyn, Neru, Sarita, Phyl and Zia

The raining crew

World Goa Day Celebrations

on 21st August, 2011

Quebec Goan Association

Independence Day of India celebration organized by the High Commission of India in Ottawa

Independence Day of India celebration organized by the High Commission of India in Ottawa

 

 

 

 

 

 

QGA’s participation in 2011 Canada Day Parade

QGA’s participation in 2011 Canada Day Parade

This year’s Canada Day was blessed with a wonderful summer’s day for the thousands of people who lined Ste-Catherine street in Montreal last Friday to cheer the parade and also dance and sing to the sounds of live Goan music blasting from our very own QGA float.  And not to forget our Goan dancers clad in colourful saris and  Goan  attire who graced the float as it slowly moved down the parade route. Many at the parade were thrilled with our colourful and well decorated QGA float and  cheered us on with slogans such as “viva Goa” and “Happy Canada Day”. Armed with a water bottle, a big smile and a huge bunch of  Canada flags my job as “float security” was thrilling as it was great to see our float so well appreciated by the cheering crowds who were swept away by the beat of  our float’s young Goan musicians.

M.P. Justine Trudeau who was on the review stand threw a few big waves to our float (and to me) and Flora who was the parade emcee did a good job introducing our President Mary Silveira and float participants to the crowds. After the parade we took plenty of group pictures and  were treated to well deserved refreshments and Indian snacks and then helped dismantle decorations, instruments and the sound system on the float and the two supporting vans. 

In summary this was a  thrilling experience and it was great to see the crowds pose for pictures with our float and display there appreciation by applauding and swaying to the strains of our float’s intoxicating Goan beat. It was also very rewarding to see the acknowledgement in the faces and body language of the various communities and specially the East Indian, Goan and Portuguese communities embedded in the crowds.

Melanie Rodriguez   
(Sect. QGA)

To view more photos of the Canada Day Parade Click here

Canada Day Parade - Goa Float -2011 (Quebec Goan Association)

Canada Day Parade - Goa Float -2011

Quebec Goan Association'

 

Dear member

The QGA float at this year's Canada Day parade in Montreal was a huge success mainly due to the the hard work and contributions of the following members and friends of the QGA. This marks the second time that the QGA participated in Montreal's Canada Day celebrations.

Sponsors: Werner & Mary Brauer (Sutton)  & Ingrid Brauer

Musicians : Our Youth.....Aaron Dacosta on drums, Lianne Rodriguez on electric guitar and Ryan Parboo on bongos

Goan folk dancers : Megan Marolly..(QGA -Prince), Amber Dacosta, Naomi Maclean, Mary Silveira, Annette Rodriguez, Antonio & Blanche Dacosta, Carmelita Rasquinha and Celina Soares

Float DJ : Sunny Parboo

Float security : Melanie Rodriguez/Joan Paes/Jackson D'Souza/Santaninho Fernandes/Bikram Singh/Ovid Da Silva

Photographers: Bikram Singh and Joan Paes

Float lead vehicle : Armando Silveira & Noel Rodriguez

Float Support vehicle :  Linda .May Vanderlowen  /Joann  Vanderlowen  & Allen Vanderlowen

Snacks catering : Celine & Sunny Parboo

Support staff :  Flora Marlow and the Family/Nick D'Mello/Felix D'Sa /Ardian De Souza/Joe & Daphane Fernandes.

Float design and decorations :

Luiza D'Sa..... Lead decorator and designer

Esmie D'Souza..... decorations

Olive Rego... ...... posters design (Painting)

Valentine Dias........posters design (write -up)

Float set-up :  Armando Silveira, Sunny Parboo & crew

Publicity & flyer Designer :   Rohan Lobo (from Goa)

Thank you one and all
Mary Silveira
President - QGA