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December 8, 2019: Magnificent celebration of ‘30th Anniversary & Christmas’ by Mangalorean Association of Washington DC/Maryland/Virginia

There are not many words left to describe the grand event of 30th Anniversary of the Mangalorean Catholic Association of Washington DC area that was combined with the Christmas celebration on Saturday, December 7, 2019. It was just a fantastic event. Our community people came from far and near to witness and enjoy this unique event and made the most of it.
As members and guests came in, the registration team of Renita Fernandes and Wilma Andrade, handed over the gift bags containing the beautifully designed mementos of the 30th Anniversary of the Association, the personalized Christmas cards and Program booklet to each family.

The program began with our MC duo, Clint Almeida and Merlyn Mathias kicking off the show to a packed crowd of nearly 150 people at the banquet hall of Tandoori Nights of Fairfax, VA.
 
The event catered appetizers and drinks to the attendees at the start of the program. Then we moved on to the main event of Christmas, the Musical Nativity Play from our children. The script was written, choreographed, rehearsed and meticulously executed under the leadership of Juliet Vas with help from  other committee members. It was a joy to watch our childen dress up nicely for their roles and peform in front of the audience with everyone cheering them. All the participant children and the background choir team led by Clint Almeida did an outstanding job. It was a feast for the eyes to watch the show.

It was then followed by a grand welcome by our President, V James Dante, who extended a warm welcome to everyone on behalf of his committee while narrating the importance of this occasion where all of the Presidents of the association from the time it was founded in 1989 till now were brought together at one place for the first time in history of the association. He also welcomed the dignitary Dr. Austin D’Souza who flew from Chicago to attend our event as well as the delegates, the Presidents of IACA and Goan DC Association.

Then our Felicitation Lead couple, Vice President Savio Fernandes and Treasurer Renita Fernandes, took over the stage, narrated the felicitation process and carried out the felicitation of all the Presidents of the association, followed by Dr. Austin D’Souza and the Presidents of IACA and Goan DC Association. The Presidents of the Association were felicitated with bouquets and plaques by current and past committee members and their spouses. Dr. Austin Dsouza was felicitated by the executive committee members with bouquet, plaque and a shawl. Then the Presidents of IACA and Goan DC Association were felicitated by past committee members with bouquets and Certificates of Appreciation.
 
It was time for the much awaited Santa’s arrival. Santa arrived promptly with his carriage full of gifts to the background music, cheered by all young and the old. He entertained everyone with his wit and humor and distributed individual wrapped gifts brought by parents for their children and took pictures with the children. It was a feast to watch the Santa’s show. Immediately following Santa’s exist, it was time for singing the Christmas Carols with everyone’s participation, the choir team leading.
While people thought it was time to hit the dance floor, our President, V James Dante was invited again by the MCs to do the ‘Thank you’ speech before dinner.  Apart from thanking everyone attending the events, he went on to thank the Presidents and the dignitaries and delegates on behalf of the committee. He offered his thanks to Dr. Ajit Britto of Britto Orthodontics who donated towards the event and Lovee & Jerome Faison for sponsoring the Alexas for the raffle.  He also offered his personal thanks to all his committee members and their families for the support they have extended in all the events of the year 2019. Then he invited the past President Jacinta Mascarenhas to perform the grace before meals. While some people headed out to enjoy the lavishly laid out buffet dinner by the banquet hall, other dance enthusiasts preferred to rock the floor with great music number from DJ couple John Lee and Carol Figueira.

The raffles were drawn during dinner and dance show and also picture of all the Presidents of the Association was taken as a memory of this unique event.
 
Later the dancing continued while several spot prizes were declared by the MCs. The program ended closer to midnight with everyone leaving with a happy heart and happy stomach, having connected with a lot of friends and having made new friends.
The following is the list of the key people who were responsible for the various tasks for successfully executing the event to make it a grand success -

Nativity Play  :  Juliet Vas (Lead), Merlyn Mathias, Clint Almeida.
Christmas Carols :  Clint Almeida
Design of Banners, Mementos and Felicitation Plaques :  Reynel Castellino, V James Dante
Memento Ordering/Packing :  V James Dante, Merlyn Mathias, Wilma Tauro, Julia Dante
Event Venue Booking :  Julia Dante, Savio Fernandes, Renita Fernandes, V James Dante
Event Hall and Stage Decorations :  Yolanda’s Decorations, Julia Dante
Registration and Memento Distribution :  Renita Fernandes, Wilma Andrade
Masters of Ceremony :  Clint Almeida, Merlyn Mathias
Felicitation Leads :  Savio Fernandes & Renita Fernandes
Program Booklet : Wilma Tauro
D Js :  John Lee &  Carol Figueira
Overall Coordination :  V James Dante V James Dante

More pictures are available on the link here  –
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pzQA8MabBsHLxRH_IujdiLIe0hEo-MsU?usp=sharing
On behalf of our Mangalorean Association of DC/Maryland/Virginia, I want to thank you all for supporting us to make this unique event a grand success.