Family Get Together – Matharpacady Heritage Village

Families gathered at the village center on Thursday evening, 23^rd February 2017. Dennis Baptista, Vice President of the Matharpacady Residents Welfare Association ALM welcomed the resident families requesting them to participate joyfully in the short prayer and worship session followed by entertainment and refreshments. After an opening hymn, Canute led the people in prayer.  Then, each melodious hymn was followed by intercessory prayers by Prayer Leaders from different areas of the village.  A round of light refreshments was served. Ms. Vidhya asked Ignatius to conduct the first game of “Chinese Housie” which was a novelty to the audience.  In sequence Vidhya, Renie and Charmaine then conducted amusing games for small   children, parents, youth and even seniors – namely, bursting the balloons, the chillie in the bottle, hula hoop dancing, husbands being bottle fed by their spouses, and a final game of the traditional ‘housie’. The first, second and third placed winners of every game were awarded prize gifts. Groovy music by DJ Rodger and Canute set the mood and kept feet tapping during the games and at the dance session.  Managing Committee Members Charmaine, Stan, Canute, Renie, Judith, Joe, Gerry, Martin, Percy, Dennis  and others ensured that all the 85 family members present were served delicious snacks like samosas, pattice, wafers, cake and mixed fruit juice.  Helpers were also given the same.

On behalf of all residents and families who were present, Tyronne gave a “Vote Of Thanks” expressing their heartfelt gratitude to the Managing Committee Members of the Welfare Association for organizing such a wonderful Family Get-Together completely free of cost.  He made special mention and thanked Percy D’Souza, President, for always being most generous in sponsoring gifts for prizes, refreshments, etc.  As Secretary of the Holy Cross Committee, Tyronne requested the village folk to participate devoutly in the ‘Way Of The Cross” Lenten Services that would be organized around the bylanes of Matharpacady Village and the Novena Services scheduled to begin on 22^nd April and in the 142^nd Feast Day Celebrations on 1^st May 2017. On behalf of the Managing Committee, he bade all families a memorable goodnight.

Compiled by Tyronnne Concescio.  Photographs courtesy Stanislaus Baptista