LONDON
‘Abolim’, the Konkani Choir of the Goan Community of Southampton participated at The Star of The Sea Marian Concert and Exhibition organised by the Filipino Catholic Community of Southampton at St Boniface Catholic Church, Shirley, Southampton, UK, on October 10.
The afternoon gala featured Marian songs and praises performed by singing groups from various Southampton parishes and communities.
The concert served as a major fundraising event to help reach a £45,000 target to fix the clay-tile St Boniface Catholic Church roof of the Grade II listed, 1927 Neo-Byzantine church building. Parishioners and attendees were encouraged to "sponsor a tile" for £10.
The concert was designed as a collective space for prayer, music, and devotion honouring the Blessed Mother. It brought together the diverse international Catholic communities of Southampton (including Goan, Filipino and Nigerian communities) to share their distinct cultural traditions.
The Konkani Choir of the Goan Community of Southampton comprised Choirmaster John Fernandes (Guitar), Shane Fernandes (Guitar), Larissa Fernandes (Violin), Bernardo Logan Pinheiro (Bass Guitar), RJ Bihula Vaz, Nadia Gracias E Pinheiro, Ramona Salins, Maria Assumpta Borges, RJ Roque Vaz, Sebastian Savio D`Costa, Brayden Whyte, and Rufus Fernandes.
The Oblates of the Virgin Mary (OMV) priests based at the church also performed solo acts in aid of the church.
