The members of St. Anna, Arkula I ward celebrated their annual ward feast with immense joy, devotion, and community spirit, bringing together ward members to celebrate their shared faith.
The celebrations commenced on Sunday, 2nd August 2026, with a solemn Thanksgiving Holy Mass. Ward members actively participated in the liturgy, setting a prayerful tone for the feast. In a grand procession, members reverently carried the statue of St. Anna to the altar, offering roses and offertory gifts as a token of their deep devotion. Symbolizing their unity, ward members also carried written words representing the “fruits of the community” to the altar, attaching them to a prearranged plant.
The second phase of the celebration took place on Sunday, 9th August 2026, at 5:30 p.m. with a warm ward gathering at the residence of Prakash and Fatima D’Souza. The evening began with the recitation of the Holy Rosary in honor of Mother Mary, followed by the St. Anna Novena. The family members initiated the spiritual program by solemnly carrying the Holy Bible to the Dias and offering flowers at the feet of the St. Anna statue.
The formal stage programme kicked off at 6:00 p.m., opened by a graceful prayer dance performed by Fiona D’Souza. Ward Gurkar Mr. Ozwald Coelho warmly welcomed the dignitaries with roses presented by the children of the ward.
The dignitaries present included Rev. Fr. William Menezes, Parish Priest , Rev. Fr. Rahul Dexter D’Souza, Resident Priest, Fr. Fredrik Brags, Monte Mariano Convent, Mr. Arthur D’Souza Parish Pastoral Council Vice President, Mr. Elroy Saldanha Commissions Coordinator, Mr. Dexter Saldanha Convenor Small Christians Community and Mrs.Linet Dsouza Secretary Small Christians Community, Sr.Lucy Miranda and Sr.Helen, St. Charles Boromeo Convent.
Following the welcome, Ward Secretary Roshni Lobo presented the comprehensive annual report. Highlighting the ward’s focus on the community, a celebration cake was cut in honour of Elders’ Day and the observed ‘Year of Children’.
In a beautiful gesture of communal harmony, the ward felicitated a neighbouring Hindu girl for securing an impressive 92% in the SSLC examinations. Ms. Melina Lobo was also honoured for her outstanding academic achievement of scoring 90.6 % in the SSLC exams.
The evening was packed with vibrant cultural performances. The audience was treated to a celebratory song by the ward members, a massive collaborative team dance featuring kids, teens, ladies, and gents, and two hilarious comedy skits—one presented by the energetic teens and another by the talented ward members
In observance of the ‘Year of Children’, special gifts were distributed to the winners of the Kids’ Drawing Competition, alongside prizes for various games and tokens of appreciation for all children present.
The gathering was enriched by inspiring messages from Mr. Arthur D’Souza, Rev. Fr. Fredrik Brags, Rev. Fr. Rahul Dexter, and Rev. Fr. William Menezes. The speakers highly commended the ward for its exemplary unity, meticulous efforts, and vibrant community spirit, urging them to grow even stronger by emulating the virtues of their patron, St. Anna.
The memorable evening concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Ward Secretary Roshni Lobo, followed by a delicious dinner lovingly prepared by the ward members themselves. The entire event was seamlessly compered by Ms. Anita Lobo and Babitha Fernandes.
The annual feast was not just a reflection of deep-rooted faith, but a beautiful reminder of the power of togetherness. Through prayer, laughter, and shared meals, the ward continues to build a strong, inclusive, and vibrant faith community that looks forward to many more years of grace and unity.