The Organising Committee of Friends of St Francis Xavier consisting of (from L to R) Lilian Lopez, Stella Azavedo, Tony Gomes, Agnes Gomes and Querobino Lopez.
NAIROBI
The Feast of St Francis Xavier, Goencho Saib was celebrated at the Goan Institute in Nairobi-Kenya on December 3 at 11.30 am, with a bulk of the funds collected to be used to support the less fortunate to enable them to enjoy the festive season.
The celebration began with a Mass celebrated by Fr Richard D’Souza, with Fr Luis Saldanha and Fr Sebastian Kol and Deacon Roberto, who will soon be ordained a priest, as the con-celebrants.
The choir was led by Agnelo Carneiro singing and playing the violin, accompanied by Colin Carneiro on the keyboard and Daren Miranda on the guitar.
The Mass was followed with a social gathering in true Goan style, with food cooked by various Goan ladies and music provided by DJ Mikey Dias.
About 200 guests were present at the gathering and they had a chance of winning fabulous raffle prizes, including hampers and other items. The event was well supported by donations in cash or kind from well-wishers. The bulk of the proceeds will be used to support the less fortunate to enable them to enjoy the festive season.
The Goans in Nairobi have celebrated this feast for over 100 years, the Mass being celebrated at the Minor Basilica and a gathering thereafter at the church hall. From then on, it moved to various other churches in Nairobi.
