| The Konkani Community of St. Francis of Assisi Parish Jebel Ali celebrated the Birthday (Nativity) of Mother Mary on 8th September 2006 in the St. Clare Hall. Fr. Anthony Lopez from Abu Dhabi parish celebrated the Konkani Mass to a full house assembly of 400+ Mangalorean and Goan expats. He stressed on the importance of the devotion to Mother Mary and Her role in the Catholic faith. According to the Mangalorean tradition, the Jebel Ali Konkani Community distributed the paddy milk (Novem) to all present and served a scrumptious vegetarian dinner of seven various dishes and "vorn" for dessert.
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