Osterley Parish Priest Fr Feroz Fernandes and other Goans during the celebration to commemorate the Feast of St.Francis Xavier in the Northwick Park hospital in Sudbury.
LONDON
The Feast of St Francis Xavier was celebrated by Goan employees in the Northwick Park hospital at Sudbury, Borough of Brent, West London, on December 1 for the second successive year.
Goan employees at the hospital celebrated Mass in the Chapel and the main celebrants were Fr Feroz Fernandes, newly appointed parish priest of Osterley, and Fr Augustine. A large statue of St Francis Xavier was brought all the way from Goa.
The choir was led by singer-cum-musician Anselm Fernandes. The Goan employees took active part in the Mass.
The Mass was followed by a get-together which was attended by over 100 Goan and other employees of the hospital at the Wellspring restaurant in the premises of the Northwick Park hospital at about 4.30 pm.
The event was compered by Alvito Dias, who had the vision of organising the Feast in the hospital.
Angela Joyce De Souza who is a NHS Governor of Brent, Harrow, Honslow, Ealing and Hillingdon, and a social activist in Wembley, was the chief guest at the event and was welcomed by the hospital manager Elena.
A group of Goans at the Northwick Park hospital.
Addressing the Northwick Park hospital employees, Joyce said recalled fond memories of the Feast as a child.
“It is really nice when the Goan community comes together and puts in a lot of effort to celebrate such events. As we celebrate feasts and occasions in the UK, it is very important that we respect and accept other cultures and communities that form a part of the diverse community,” said Joyce.
“If we celebrate our feasts/events by engaging with the diverse community as a whole, they too will come to know of our traditions and culture and in this way, we will be able to keep connected to our roots and Goan identity.”
Elvis Fernandes, social worker/activist in Wembley and husband of Angela De Souza was also present and handed over a prize for the housie winner.
The food was cooked by Goan employees and each member either brought a food item or volunteered to help to make the celebration a success. Goan dishes like patties, Pulao, Sorpotel, Chicken Xacuti and Doce were on the menu.
A number of Goan employees also contributed money or sponsored items for the celebration.
Alvito Dias and Anarita Rodrigues performed the Kunbi and the Vodekara dance, while Ariana Fernandes (9), daughter of Elvis Fernandes and Joyce De Souza, who was a finalist at the first-ever Konkani solo singing competition organised by the Goan Chaplaincy in the U.K. sang a Konkani song and a Christmas song.
A housie was played and a total of 100 pounds was given to people who won the single line, Jaldi five, etc. Prizes were sponsored by the Goan employees of the hospital.
