Dubai, Jul 3: SMMC, a renowned Mangalorean Konkan organization of St Mary's Catholic Church Dubai, now has new office bearers for the year 2017-2019. Fr Robert Lasrado, Spiritual Director of SMMC announced the new Core Committee during the Konkani Mass recently.

Jerina Lewis, Fr Robert Lasrado and  Joseph Mathias

SMMC a novel organization was initiated in 2013 to cater the spiritual requirements of vast Mangalorean Konkan Community of St Mary's Parish Dubai. With the apt guidance and encouragement of the present energetic Spiritual Director Fr Robert Lasrado, last year SMMC successfully hosted cultural as well as spiritual programmes like Konkani drama, indoor sports day, Lenten retreat, 9 days Novena and Monti Fest, various competitions and cultural events during Monti Fest and Christmas.

Now Fr Robert has appointed several well-versed personalities and expanded the core group to form a paramount organization to serve St Mary's Parish, especially Konkani speaking parishioners of Dubai in a better way.

The details of new office bearers of SMMC Dubai for 2017 - 2019 are as follows:-

Jerina Lewis - Coordinator
Joseph Mathias - Vice Coordinator
Boniface Carlo - Liturgical Coordinator 
Clifford Rodricks - Asst Liturgical Coordinator 
Philomena Pereira - Treasurer & Eucharistic Ministry Rep
Lavina D'Souza - Secretary
Diany Dsouza - Program Coordinator 
Lanita Noronha - Asst Program Coordinator 
Loyson DCunha - Sports Coordinator / Ushers Sodality Rep 
Rudolf Sanctis - Ushers Sodality Representative 
Josly Pinto - JMJ (Jesus Mary Joseph) Konkani Prayer Group rep 
Leroy D'Souza - Asst Sports Coordinator / Youth Group Rep
Veronica Alva - Asst Media Coordinator

With this vibrant new Core Team, Fr Robert said that now SMMC Dubai has enthusiastically geared up to plan new endeavors to enhance the spiritual and commercial activities for Mangalorean community of St Mary's Church Dubai.

As an initial significant venture for this year, SMMC New team is planning a grand celebration of 9 days novena for the popular Mangalorean feast of Mother Mary 'Monti Fest' with Konkani Mass, Novena and Flower veneration to Balok Mori 'Bambino'. Also to mark the event, various competitions like Konkani singing as well as Fancy dress on Biblical and Saintly Characters for the children of various age categories have been arranged. Monti Fest will be celebrated on Thursday, September 7 at 8pm with Mass, procession, flower veneration to Mother Mary and thereafter Novem Jevann.

A cultural programme will be organized  on Friday, September 8 in the Main Hall of St Mary's Church. More details about Monti Fest celebration will be announced soon.

Apart from enriching spiritual Konkani events in St Mary's Church Dubai, SMMC is intending to organize many Konkani cultural events, mainly Pradeep Barboza's new Konkani comedy drama on Friday, October 13.  

The able and captivating SMMC's new Core team with the ever supportive Spiritual Director Fr Robert Lasrado, deems to elevate spiritual spirit and render good benefits to the Mangalorean Community of St. Mary's Dubai Parish.