MATHARPACADY VILLAGE

Tag: mazgaon

  • 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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  • Matharpacady Holy Cross – 147th Anniversary Novena – Announcement

    Matharpacady Holy Cross – 147th Anniversary Novena – Announcement

    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.

    The Annual Novena to the Holy Cross (Patron Saint:  St Roque) Commences:  7.30 p.m. IST, DAILY from April  22 to 30, 2022.

    The Theme for the Novena this year is :

    EUCHARIST : MEAL FOR MATHARPACADY

    Matharpacady is twice Blessed. Faith in the Holy Cross wrought by long-standing devotion and a deep cultural belief has hitherto protected the Village from decimation despite numerous attempts to grab land for development. Unnoticed benefits have been longevity, fertility, prosperity and good health. Some sixteen years ago the Miranda family donated their cottage to the Blessed Sacrament Congregation (Eymard Cottage). Our  neighbour, if we truly realise it, is now Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. In the Eucharist the Holy Cross of Divine-Human sacrifice and the subsequent and consequent Resurrection is available for our Salvation, Healing, Success, Progress to Heaven, our Joy, Peace, and Perseverance. 

    It’s not a one way street. Christ gave. In Joy and Praise we too are called to give.

    We are a Eucharistic people: The Sacrifice of the Cross is our Bread & Wine and the Eucharist leads us to sacrifice.

  • 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 –

     

  • Whist Drive – 10th March 2020

    Whist Drive – 10th March 2020

         

    The Matharpacady Residents’ Welfare Association organised their Whist Drive at St. Isabel’s High School on Tuesday, 10th March 2020.  Mr. Stanislaus Baptista and Mr. Dennis Baptista handled this Whist Drive. Twenty Eight participants and other guests were warmly greeted as they entered the  hall.  Participants, four a table, were seated at numbered tables to enjoy this competitive card game.  The whist drive was in two sessions of six games each.   Stanislaus Baptista also captured these moments on camera for us. Light refreshments of hot tea, biscuits and Batata Vadas were served at the break in sessions.  Highest scorers were awarded generous cash prizes.  The delighted recipients – Mr. Clifford Khan,  with 99 points was the first prize winner with highest points. The prize for the highest score in the first half shared by Mrs. Irene Nazareth and Mr. Maxim Rego with 49 points each. The prize for the highest score in the second half was awarded to  Ms, Philo Nazareth  with 46 points. The prize for the lady with the lowest score was given to Ms. Joan Nazareth with 66 points while the prize for the gent with the lowest score was given to Mr. Avelino Rosario (66 points). They all received the gifts to much applause from all the others present.

    Mr. Dennis Baptista, thanked all the participants and guests for making this a happy memorable function. Thanks also to Mrs. Joanita D’Costa for the delicious homemade sweets given to all participants. Mr. Stanislaus Baptista informed all about the Whist Drive being organised by the Rosarian Senior Citizens Association  on Tuesday, 24th March 2020 at 6.00 pm in the KG Classroom. The next Whist Drive being organised by the MRWA will be on Tuesday, 14th April 2020 at 6.00 pm at St. Isabel’s High School.  Heartfelt thanks to the Management and Trustees of St. Isabel’s High School, for allowing us the use of the Hall and other amenities for all our functions. The Welfare Associations purpose is to bring families closer together at these functions, by fostering a spirit of friendship and co-operation so as to strengthen and build the Catholic community.

     

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  • Christmas Party – Boxing Day – 26th December 2019

    Christmas Party – Boxing Day – 26th December 2019

         

    Once again Captain Julius Valladares and his team of organisers – Canute Monteiro, Shaila Baptista and our evergreen comedian Merwyn D’Mello outdid themselves with a hugely appreciated “Christmas Tree” for kids.  Some forty kids and their parents cutting across all castes, creeds and religions.  It is funny that Julius chose the village’s overgrown kid Roydon to emcee the games.  Quite the ‘boy who never grew up”,  Roydon in the Passing Santa’s Cap game for the little tots allowed himself to be bullied by the little ones into not declaring anyone out for several rounds.  Finally Shaila, ever the kind but firm Mommy, stepped in to eliminate the kids stuck with the hat.  Food is one things kids never tire of and there were plenty of snacks and refreshing drinks.  In keeping with our “save the environment” ethos, all ate to their heart’s content but strategically positioned dustbins received all the wastes, thus saving the environment.  We have hope in our future generation.  A kind of Grand March to spirited music had kids from the youngest to the oldest march around the square culminating in a dance that kids are natural at. A game for slightly older kids saw kids running and pushing for seats although everyone was assured a seat at the proverbial table.  Says so much for human nature.  Elimination was by lucky or unlucky draw of mini icons of the Christmas Icons that were stuck on the chairs.  Too bad for the kid who’s seat was perched on the drawn symbol! The oldest batch were tested on both leadership and team behaviour as well as their ability to interpret series of pictorial clues related to Carols in a Guess the Carols contest.  Our participants all proved to be intelligent because the difference between inning teams was very thin.  Finally it was time for Santa Claus to make his appearance and Merwyn in costume, bell in hand proved more than able to set all bells a-ringing with the kids flocking behind him waiting eagerly for the toffees and chocolates to be handed out from his goody bag.  While prizes, spot prizes and presents were being handed out by Santa, to our great delight our Parish Priest Fr Nigel Barret put in a surprise appearance.  When it was all over their daddies and mommies (mainly mommies) took “them home to bed because they were tired little teddy bears”. We have it on authority that the mommies enjoyed it all as much as the kids did!

    With inputs from Roydon Gonsalves

    Photographs : Courtesy – Natasha Lobo

     

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  • 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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