MATHARPACADY VILLAGE

Tag: cross feast

  • 149TH ANNIVERSARY CROSS FEAST IN MATHARPACADY

    149TH ANNIVERSARY CROSS FEAST IN MATHARPACADY

    The Managing Committee of the Holy Cross Oratory organized the traditional Novena Services at the Holy Cross Oratory every evening from 22nd April 2024 onwards culminating in the Feast Day Celebrations on Wednesday, 1st May 2024. Daily, Prayer Leaders led the well attended services on the recital of the Rosary [dedicating each decade for a particular intention], the litany of Our Lady, litany of the Holy Cross and litany of St. Roque [patron saint of the Village who had protected the residents from the scourge of the deadly plague that ravaged Bombay]. Traditional distribution of boiled gram was done during the novena.

    Catholic resident families with their relatives, guests and well wishers gathered in large numbers in the heart of Matharpacady Heritage Village for the landmark religious and festive celebrations on Wednesday evening, 1st May 2024. Rev. Fr. D. Peter Jayakanthan SSS, Provincial, Blessed Sacrament, alongwith concelebrants, Rev. Fr. Merwyn D’Souza, Church of Our Lady of Rosary and Rev. Fr. Suresh SSS were escorted in a solemn procession from the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at ‘Eymard Cottage’ to the altar.

    Father Peter, in a very inspiring and thought provoking homily expressed his happiness of being invited and preaching to the large gathering of residents and well wishers present.

    The zestful choir, gladdened the hearts of the faithful as they led in glorious song and praise to the Lord. 

    Father Peter blessed the congregation with the Relic of the True Cross as Holy Mass ended.  Ms. Chloe Cardoso expressed deep gratitude to Father Peter on behalf of the Managing Committee, as well as our thanks to Father Nigel Barrett, Parish Priest, Rosary Church and the other Fathers and Sisters of the Parish, Father John Lobo S.J., Parish Priest of St. Anne’s Church, Mazagon and the Management and Trustees of St. Isabel’s High School.

    Families made their way to the Oratory to kiss and venerate the Relic of the True Cross, and thereafter collect their refreshments. Folks mingled around center stage exchanging feast day greetings and settled down for games of housie. Feedback from residents and friends said that the Holy Mass and inspiring homily were meaningful and the community celebrations with a family atmosphere were most enjoyable.

    The Managing Committee wishes to thank all the donors and benefactors who so generously contributed towards defraying the expenses towards the Novena and Feast Day celebrations.

    The Matharpacady Village Holy Cross Oratory is all set to commemorate a significant milestone next year – the 150th Anniversary of the Holy Cross Oratory. This momentous occasion marks a century and a half of devotion, faith, and community bonding. We will be preparing for a grand celebration to honour this legacy as we enter into this sesquicentennial year of our Holy Cross Oratory, which has been an integral part of our heritage. The Holy Cross Oratory symbolizes the village’s rich cultural and religious history, which has brought together generations of our villagers, strengthening community ties and reinforcing their shared values. This milestone anniversary is a testament to the village’s enduring spirit and its ability to come together in the face of adversity. We invite you all to be a part of this joyous celebration, and momentous milestone ! Do write in to share your past experiences, alongwith memories and photographs of the years gone by as we enter into our 150th year.

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  • Christmas in Matharpacady Village – December 2023

    Christmas in Matharpacady Village – December 2023

    Since early December, Matharpacady Village wore a festive look, coming alive at sundown with all the bylanes decorated with twinkle lights, and illuminative decorative symbols of Stars, Angels, Reindeer, Candy Sticks.

    During the whole season we had groups of people going around the decorated by lanes of our charming Heritage Village.

    Along with its unique ambience best experienced during Christmas and the Feast of the Holy Cross, Matharpacady Village has an active residents’ association fighting hard to adapt and accommodate into the fast changing city around, to survive the onslaught of urbanisation and salvage one of the few remnants of Old Bombay.

    We want the government to see the potential for heritage tourism here. In this context, the Residents Welfare Association has submitted suggestions to the Mumbai Heritage Committee for the up gradation, protection, and maintenance of our unique Heritage Village Precinct and safeguarding this cultural gem.

    May the Spirit of this season bring Joy, Hope and Love to the hearts of many – Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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  • Urban Sketchers, Mumbai – 24th December 2023

    Urban Sketchers, Mumbai – 24th December 2023

    The Members of “Urban Sketchers Mumbai” go around various heritage precincts, gaothans and padas capturing the remnants and charm of old time Mumbai, through their sketches. They visited our quaint village on Sunday, 24th December 2023 to capture the various cottages and bungalows in our Heritage Precinct.

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  • 148th Anniversary Cross Feast in Matharpacady Heritage Village

    148th Anniversary Cross Feast in Matharpacady Heritage Village

    The Preparatory Novena Services at the Holy Cross Oratory in Matharpacady Heritage Precinct commenced on Saturday, 22nd April 2023. Daily Prayer Leaders were appointed to lead the novena services which were attended by our residents. The traditional Novena Services include the recitation of the Holy Rosary, and the Litany of Our Lady, the Litany of the Holy Cross and the Litany of St. Roque [patron saint to safeguard us from plague and pestilence]. Traditional distribution of boiled gram was done after the daily novena.

    On Monday evening, 1st May 2023, around 300 residents and friends assembled around the decorated stage and altar near the Holy Cross Oratory, to devoutly participate in praise, song and worship at the Feast Mass.  The Managing Committee organized the 148th Thanksgiving Novena Services and Feast Mass Celebrations.  This tradition has been handed down by our forefathers down the decades for well over a century to protect the resident families from the scourge of plague and pestilence.

    Reverend Father Merwyn D’Souza, Assistant, Church of Our Lady of Rosary, Mazagon, was the Chief Celebrant at the Cross Feast Mass.  Reverend Father Nigel Barrett, Parish Priest, Church of our Lady of Rosary and Reverend Fr. Steven, of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament Fathers, concelebrated the Feast Mass.  As the Priests alongwith the Brothers of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament Fathers solemnly came in procession from “Eymard Cottage” [Headquarters of the Blessed Sacrament Fathers at 22 Matharpacady] to the Altar, Ms. Selma welcomed them on behalf of the Managing Committee and all present.  The choir, requested the faithful to join in singing the entrance hymn “We’re Together Again, just Praising the Lord” whole-heartedly as the Eucharistic Sacrifice began.

    During the homily, Fr. Merwyn mentioned how at every Eucharistic celebration we encounter the Lord, we are touched and the Lord heals us. We as christians are therefore called to come, receive the grace of God and spread the living Christ amongst people we meet. The peace and healing that we receive at the Holy Eucharist is not for us to keep to ourselves but to share with those around us, be it our family members, neighbours or the society. Citing the beautiful example of Anja Ringgren Lovén the Danish aid worker who picked up and cared for the abandoned witch boy on the streets of Uyo, Nigeria, Father exhorted us to be the healing to those who need it here in our very own community. He said goodness isn’t goodness unless it is shared.

    The choir sang harmoniously hymns of praise and worship as residents went to the Holy Cross Oratory to kiss and venerate the Relic of the Cross and collect their boiled gram, cake, and cold drink.

    Desmond Baptista and Merwyn D’Mello kept the folks happy and excited as they waited for Dame Fortune to smile on them during couple of games of “Housie”, Bingo! Many lucky ones did strike it rich on our Feast Day.

    The Managing Committee wishes to thank all the donors and benefactors who so generously contributed towards defraying the expenses of the Novena and Feast Day celebrations.   

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  • Matharpacady Holy Cross Novena – Day 3, Sunday, 24th April 2022

  • Monsoon Magic – Pictorial Tour Quiz & Tambola Winners

    Monsoon Magic – Pictorial Tour Quiz & Tambola Winners

          

    HOW MANY CLUES DID YOU GET RIGHT?

    Here are the winners and screenshots of the Pictorial Tour Quiz –

    First Prize – Brett Miranda, Malad, Second Prize – Blanche Miranda, Malad, Third Prize – Fr. Peter J – Matharpacady

       

    Hope you all had fun!    

    Await our next few pieces on The Village.  Maybe one or two to send shivers down your spine, or to make your mouths water! There maybe a competition coming up. Wait and see….

    The Winners of the Tambola, in no order of ranking are – Steffi Lobato, Jocelyn Pereira, Gerard Baptista, Vidhya Veloo, Jennifer Rodrigues, Jaya Veloo, and Caroline Pereira. With the exception of Jennifer who resides in Bandra, the other six winners are from Matharpacady.

           

          

    Here are the screen shots of the Tambola –    

        

    Oh Yeah!  We played for fun so the figures of coins show how much enjoyment we minted!

    Matharpacady Village

    A successful village beats with one heart!

     

  • Holy Cross Novena – 22nd April 2020

    MATHARPACADY VILLAGE HOLY CROSS ORATORY

    145th Anniversary – Novena

    In these Times of Pandemic join Matharpacady Village in praying for protection:

    The Holy Cross Oratory at Matharpacady was built in 1875 to testify how Faith in Jesus saved Matharpacady Village from the devastating Bubonic Plague.

    With living faith:

    The Annual Novena to the Holy Cross

    (Patron Saint:  St Roque)

    Commences:  7.30 p.m. IST, DAILY from

    April  22 to 30, 2020

     Cross Bells will be rung 7.30 p.m.

     

    Click on the link being sent to you daily, follow on your smart-phone or Smart TV or Computer, and sing, pray and rejoice simultaneously with your fellow residents of Matharpacady and neighbours in India and abroad.  

    Please pass this message on to relatives, friends and well wishers and post/share/message this opportunity of His Love & Protection —

     We are also attaching the link to The Daily Eucharist being celebrated by His Eminence,  Oswald Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay –

     

  • Thanksgiving Service – 30th December 2019

    Thanksgiving Service – 30th December 2019

                               

    God the giver of all good things who Himself sets the example of Servant leadership saw the residents come together on a cool and pleasant evening of 30th December 2019 to give praise and thanks and to learn lessons from the Master.  A very inspiring liturgy put together by Vincent Mascarenhas saw very tight and prayerful execution by the small organising team of Vidhyashri Veloo and MRWA President Renie Baptista led by Roydon Gonsalves.  Hansel Baptista was the sheet anchor providing chords and rhythm with his guitar accompaniment.  All the other participants Renie, Selma, Anjean, Canute, Benny, Kurt, Cynthia were clear, prayerful and on time.  Thanks to the choir comprising Corina, Gina, Cynthia, Renie, Keira, Vera, Franci we were able to praise God in song .  A birth in the village is taken as a blessing, as a sign that God will ensure that our village continues.  A ray of hope that flickers in the sky…  The thanksgiving for Births was celebrated by the Carol “When a Child is Born”, sung by Keira Barrett, daughter of Gayle Viegas and Douglas Barrett. Likewise a Wedding in the Village where the couple stays on rather than moving to a suburb or abroad was likewise celebrated with “Showers of Blessings”. Deaths are not the occasions to curse or question God but to rejoice at the ultimate healing and restoration to youth and perfection of the deceased in His Kingdom.  In song we commended ourselves “Into his hands”.  Finally we petitioned God for answers to Church, national, local civic, neighbourhood and legal issues. 

    Does anyone go mad like this over cheese balls?

    Pretty maids all in a row

    A couple of rousing Christmas Carols took the gathering into the mood for fun and games ably conducted by Selma.  A balloon and cup race had the kids struggling to battle the wind to make it to the finish line.  The adults in their team game had as much fun puncturing cheese balls with toothpicks held in their teeth and transferring them to plates held by their team mates at the opposite end.  And then there was a team game of Guess the Carol and Sing it with three teams competing to sing their carols loudest. Fuel for energy was provided by the ample snacks and soft drinks provided by the MRWA. Plenty of prizes, plenty of fun and the cherry on top were the calendars and spot prizes generously donated by Percy D’Souza.

    With Inputs from Roydon Gonsalves

    Photographs : Courtesy – Stanislaus Baptista

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  • AGM Get Together – 28th September 2019

    AGM Get Together – 28th September 2019

                                      

    The AGM of the Matharpacady Residents Welfare Association was held on Saturday evening, September 28, 2019. Post the AGM, the Committee members organised a small get together for the members and their families. 

    It was an enjoyable evening with plenty of exciting games organised by Selma Pulical with the assistance of the other committee members. There were also some interesting spot prizes called out and a game of Human Housie. We had loads of scrumptious snacks being served in between the team games. Rodger Gonsalves gave us some lively music while Stan Baptista took care to capture all the excitement on his camera. 

    The evening came to a close with the distribution of prizes and the traditional group  photograph.  Almost everyone went home with hands laden with a prize and snacks. 

    The Welfare Associations purpose is to bring families closer together at these functions, fostering a spirit of friendship and co-operation so as to strengthen and build the Catholic community.

    Inputs from : Mrs. Selma Pulical

    Photographs – Courtesy : Stanislaus Baptista

     

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  • Cross Feast Celebrations – 1st May 2019

    Cross Feast Celebrations – 1st May 2019

           

    On Wednesday evening, 1st May 2019, over 325 residents and friends assembled around the decorated stage and altar near the Holy Cross Oratory, to devoutly participate in praise, song and worship at the Feast Mass.  The Managing Committee organized the 144th Thanksgiving Novena Services and Feast Mass Celebrations.  This tradition has been handed down by our forefathers down the decades for well over a century to protect the resident families from the scourge of plague and pestilence.  The traditional Novena Services include the recitation of the Holy Rosary, and the Litany of Our Lady, the Litany of the Holy Cross and the Litany of St. Roque [patron saint to safeguard us from plague and pestilence].  The nine day Novena Services commenced on Easter Monday, 22nd April and were well attended.

     

    Reverend Father Lawrie Ferrao S.J., Parish Priest, St. Anne’s Church, Mazagon, was the Chief Celebrant at the Cross Feast Mass.  Reverend Father Ruban, of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament Fathers, concelebrated the Feast Mass.  As the Priests solemnly came in procession from “Eymard Cottage” [Headquarters of the Blessed Sacrament Fathers at 22 Matharpacady] to the Altar, Mr. Noel Viegas welcomed them on behalf of the Managing Committee  and all present.  The choir, requested the faithful to join in singing the entrance hymn “Here We Are” whole-heartedly as the Eucharistic Sacrifice began.  During the homily, Father Lawrie emphasized on the need for all of us to accept our daily trials and tribulations in life as “Crosses” taking them up and bearing them in the spirit of true Christian faith. At the end of it all, it all comes down to the choices we make and how much we love. We have chosen to carry on this age old tradition of celebrating this feast, in thanksgiving to the Cross for having saved us from the plague which destroyed so many 144 years ago. And now in our daily lives, living here in Matharpacady, by consciously choosing to love and help each other, we thus pledge our love to the Cross, which saved us then and continues to save us now. The Celebrants blessed the congregation with the True Relic of the Cross as Holy  Mass ended. At her Vote of Thanks,  Mrs. Carole Viegas, President, expressed the Committee’s  gratitude to Rev. Fr. Lawrie Ferrao for celebrating the Feast Mass and his inspiring homily, to Rev. Fr. Peter J. and the Blessed Sacrament Fathers for their constant support to the community, Rev. Fr. Herman Almeida, our Parish Priest, the Choir, the Trustees of St. Isabel’s High School, decorators, donors, benefactors and volunteers. The choir sang harmoniously hymns of praise and worship as residents went to the Holy Cross Oratory to kiss and venerate the Relic of the Cross and collect their boiled gram, cake, patties and cold drink.    

    The melodious singing by Sarah Dias and Elijah Monteiro of a duet “A Million Dreams” kept the audience rapt with attention. There were repeated rounds of applause and appreciation from the audience for the two of them.  Thereafter, Desmond Baptista and Stanislaus Baptista kept folk happy and excited as they waited for Dame Fortune to smile on them during couple of games of “Housie”, Bingo! Many lucky ones did strike it rich on our Feast Day.

    Compiled by Stanislaus Baptista, Treasurer, Matharpacady Holy Cross Oratory Committee

     

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