CALIFORNIA
CalifornianGoans joyously marked the Feast of Goa's illustrious son, St Joseph Vaz, with a Mass and a get-together on January 15.
Taking advantage of the holiday in celebration of Martin Luther King, over 120-plus Goans gathered at the St Athanasius Catholic Church, in Mountain View, California, to pay tribute to St Joseph Vaz.
A Goan priest Fr Carlos Pereira, who was on a visit from Chicago, celebrated the Konkani Mass, while a Konkani Choir led the congregations in the hymns.
Following the Mass, there was a procession led by young altar girls, Confraris, and Fr Carlos carrying the Statue of St Joseph Vaz, adding to the solemnity.
The community then congregated in the hall for a litany, followed by a get-together which included Goan snacks, dinner, and musical festivities.
“This is the second year that CalifornianGoans has been celebrating an actual Feast Mass. Earlier, we used to conduct only the Novena, followed by a get-together at a friend’s place,” said Joseph Lourenço, former president of CalifornianGoans.
“This event served as a wonderful opportunity for the Goan community to come together, reconnect with friends, and escape the hustle of daily life.”
