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Doha, 08 Oct 2017: The catholic community in Doha Qatar celebrated the (Parish Feast) annual feast of Our Lady of the Rosary Church on Friday, 06th October 2017 with great devotion and fervor. Evening as a sea of devotees gathered round the Altar in praising and thanking Lord for the gift of Our Lady of the Rosary as the patron of the parish. Thousands of expatriates from various nationalities joined the celebration and made this event a memorable one.

The Feast Day started with the Living Rosary animated by the Altar Servers at 2:30 PM in the Main Church.  At 3:00 pm Solemn High Mass in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary and Thanksgiving Mass of Rev Fr.Selvaraj Arockiam, our former Parish Priest. The solemn concelebrated high mass presided by former Parish Priest Fr. Selvaraj Arockiam OFM, Cap, with Concelebrated 11 priests included residents Priests and as well as visiting Priest which included Parish Priest Rev Fr Rally S. Gonzaga, Fr. Joy William. Rev Fr Maurice. For the Feast Celebration was overwhelmed by the parishioner’s attendance in the main church which was full to capacity, with more people standing on the church’s aisles.

Rev Fr Maurice was very much inspired that he alluded the church’s situation to Mary’s condition when she carried the Lord Jesus who is God Himself in her womb. wherein the church’s limited space is able to accommodate the large number of parishioners present in the celebration.  Rev Fr Maurice continued his homily by assuring the faithful that the Blessed Mother is always with us in our daily endeavour in reaching out to her Son Jesus. The Holy Mass lasted for almost two and a half hours, which was described by everyone present as very solemn, inspiring and heavenly experience.

Before final blessing there is short facility programs held to give farewell to former Parish Priest Fr. Selvaraj Arockiam . Parish Priest Rev. Fr Rally S. Gonzaga, Vice president Nerry Alfonso read out the “Maan Patrr” highlighting the spiritual and normal developmental works done by Fr. Selvaraj Arockiam during his tenure of 13 years in the church as Assist parish priest and Parish Priest Rev. Fr Rally S. Gonzaga, presented their Memento. On his reply Fr. Selvaraj Arockiam Thanked all specially mentioning a few for their full co-operation during his tenure here and thanked all Parishioners for their complete support.

After the mass candle light procession of the Image of Our Lady of the Rosary which was beautifully decorated with colourful flowers was carried   around the parish grounds. 

A well-organized cultural program and food fiesta followed right after the Eucharistic Celebration at the parish grounds.  The multi cultural Catholic Church of Qatar was once again filled with festive celebrations of cultural dances, songs and food.  It was participated in by the various communities, languages and rites in the parish.  The very lively emcees added life to the celebration with their natural talent of hosting a celebration.
Radge from Filipino Community the compere for the evening as usual was at his eloquent best keeping the gathering entertained with his witty comments and spot-on observations on the performances.Short skits, dances, songs along with spot games that were the part of the cultural evening kept the audience glued to their seats to the end.

The stall of Konkani Speaking Community comprising Mangaloreans and Goans. The Konkani speaking community food stall was the centre of attraction with traditional sanna-maas, quite of few south Indian chicken, mutton delicacies coupled with yummy desserts such as xira, khir etc. Ever enthusiastic Vivian D’Souza in cooperation and coordination with the Konkani Speaking Committee president and members put in efforts in putting up the food stall Especially those who are single here in Doha and depend on hotel food had an opportunity to taste some of the home made dishes. There were other community food counters that provided an opportunity to taste various delicacies.
The church was decorated with beautiful festive lights. The church choir made the event even more beautiful with the melodious hymns. There were food counters that provided an opportunity to taste various delicacies. Music program was an added entertainment. The fiesta lasted until 10:00PM.

A week earlier, the preparation for the Feast Day of the Our Lady of the Rosary started on 26th September 2017with the beginning of the daily Novena Masses presided by the guest preacher Rev Fr Maurice, a daily recitation of the rosary, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and a Benediction was also done just before the Holy Mass.  The daily novena masses were an occasion much awaited daily by the faithful because of the very inspiring homily of Rev Fr Maurice about the Blessed Mother.

  A block rosary organized by the Franciscan Youth and the Legion of Mary, was held on 29th September 2017 at the Seraphic Hall from 7.30 AM to 7:00PM, participated in by the different communities of the parish as part of the feast preparation.  The Parish Priest Rev. Fr Rally S. Gonzaga to all the parishioners for their involvement and support on the success of the celebration of the Feast of the Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rosary.