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Goan Festivities: The approach of November and December sees the Goan community on the island in a festive mood. This year the festive season begins with the nine-day novena of St. Francis Xavier starting on November 24. The service in Konkani at the Sacred Heart Church will be led by a preacher from Goa who will be specially flown in. The concelebrated feast Mass of St. Francis Xavier, offered by the Young Goans Club, will be on December 3, at the SHC at 7.00 p.m. The feast also coincides with the annual day celebrations of the club, which are tentatively scheduled for December 5. More details of the novenas and the club celebrations will be announced shortly.

Clifford Appointed Vice-President of Global Indians: Clifford Correia has been appointed Vice-President of the Global Indian Association (GIA), Bahrain Chapter. GIA is an international platform for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) around the world and returned NRIs, to unite to present, share and solve issues related to migration and work, welfare activities, co-ordination with the Government of India and Embassies of the respective countries in India. GIA headquarters are in New Delhi, with  coordinators in various countries. 

Konkan Singers Club Annual Day: The annual day celebrations of the Konkan Singers Club will be held on December 6 at the Baan Saeng Thai Auditorium, Adliya, from 11 a.m. onwards. The event with DJ Music, is open to all members. Entry cards are to be collected from club office. The club has offered Mass in honour of their patron St. Cecilia, on November 23, at the Sacred Heart Church at 6.30 p.m. All are welcome for this service in Konkani.

Julius and Philu Dias (Goa): We thank Xit-Koddi for their regular dispatch of this newsletter - a constant source of information from Bahrain. We left Bahrain in December 2006, but Xit-Koddi has kept us informed of all the happenings there since. We miss Bahrain and all our friends there. We were in Bahrain for 30 years and it had become our second home. For those who may have forgotten us, I worked initially for the National Bank of Bahrain and then for MENAS, and my wife Philu, was a Hindi teacher at Sacred Heart School. We want to thank all our well-wishers there and wish the Goan community all the best. With the political and economic scene changing all over the globe, life has become a little difficult. Do not lose hope. Behind every cloud there is a silver lining. Pray and hope in God. I would advise all youngsters : work hard, be good and you will be happy in life.   

St. Francis Xavier Exposition: The Archdiocese of Goa has announced that the decennial exposition of the sacred relic of St. Francis Xavier (SFX) will take place from November 22, 2014 and end on January 4, 2015, feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. This advance notice will help Goan and other devotees of SFX to plan their visit to Goa accordingly.

NRI Minister, Goa: Goa CM Manohar Parrikar has made some minor changes in the portfolios of his cabinet ministers. Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza has been entrusted with the NRI Affairs portfolio, which was earlier held by the CM.

AGNELO DA COSTA 

CIBEOLA ANNE PEREIRA. 

Xit-Koddi has located many members of the Bahrain Goan community, excelling in various fields over the years. Our recent trip to Goa brought to our attention an ex-resident of Bahrain, now holding a high-profile position in Goa. He is Agnelo Da Costa, Chairperson of the Sanguem Municipal Council. 

Agnelo was in Bahrain from 1981 to 1993, working as a Technician with Awalco General Air-conditioning Company. His work did not give him much time for any other activities in Bahrain. However, he was very popular in the football arena and was nicknamed ‘Liverpool’ for he always tried to imitate the English style of football on the field. He was a strong and regular defender in the popular United Goans football team. 

Having spent a dozen years in Bahrain, he left for his home town, Sanguem, to run his family business of bakers, which he manages till today. Agnelo, married to Martha, is the father of three sons - Mesias, Macson and Ashley.

He took to social work in his village, soon after his return to Goa, and was first elected to the Sanguem Municipal Council in 2005. Currently serving his second term, Agnelo was elected unopposed as the chairman of the council early this month, when the chairmanship fell vacant with the resignation of Changuna Salgoankar from the post. Agnelo has pledged to work for the all-around development of Sanguem, with the support of his councillors. 

Xit-Koddi wishes this former resident of Bahrain a successful tenure.

      CONGRATULATIONS      

The CBSE results this year, took Xit-Koddi to many of our Little Goan Stars in Bahrain. Among them was Cibeola Anne Pereira, a topper at Indian School, with A1 grades in all subjects at the SSC exams. 

Xit-KoddiExtends Best                      Wishes

         For A Happy Married                      Life

To The Members       Of Our Bahrain Goans Community

May the coming years fill your lives             with 

Love & Happiness 

Niven Dylan Fernandes ( Sayyar Trading) Sheryl Pamela Moraes (Khyber Trading)

Married on October 3, at Manama - Bahrain. 

The result was not a surprise to her teachers or for her parents, as Cibeola has been claiming A1 grade certificates regularly at school every year. Her academic excellence, combined with her achievements in extra-curricular activities, saw her attain the place of Cultural Secretary in Std X. Soft-spoken Cibeola has inscribed her name on several trophies at Youth Festivals in Bahrain. Among them are prizes in drawing, handwriting, mime (acting), keyboard, science experiments, short plays, pot painting, salad-making and flower arrangement. She has participated in numerous fancy dress competitions and was a regular participant and winner at Family Fun Day at Sacred Heart Church till she was 12. She has also won medals and trophies in Chess Tournaments in Bahrain. 

Cibeola, who attributes all her achievements to hard work, sincerity and God’s blessings, is an active member of Altar Servers, Lectors and Music Ministry at Our Lady Of Visitation Parish, Awali. The sixteen-year-old Cibeola loves reading, drawing, playing chess and piano. She has completed Grade VII in Piano at the Bahrain Music Institute. Cibeola, who is a Std. XI– Science student at the Indian School, wishes to pursue a career in medicine. ‘I wish to be a surgeon, if it is the will of God’, she told Xit-Koddi.

Cibeola is the daughter of Ciana Fatima and Clito Pereira from Taleigao, Goa. Her brother Christley Camilo Pereira, is a student of Sacred Heart School in Junior 6. May the dreams and aspirations of Cibeola be fulfilled, is our prayer for this little Goan Star in Bahrain. 

What I Like About Bahrain:

What I Miss About Goa:

Alvito Dias:  I like the friendly and helpful people here… the Goans I know have made me a part of their family and I never feel lonely. I have been able to fulfill most of my dreams in Bahrain, most importantly  to find a life-partner. Sometimes, I feel I am in Goa itself with so many Goan activities on this island.

Norita Alphonso:  It is the small things I miss .. the smell of the earth after the first rain, a very simple meal cooked in earthern pots …all the festivities in Goa - the carnivals, the San Joao festival, the feasts of each vaddo and the simple Mass in a chapel. Not to forget the beaches of Goa which are so relaxing.

Sheena Dias: Born and brought up on this beautiful island, Bahrain is a paradise, the land of a million palm trees, natural fresh water springs and a burning sun. This country breathes history and I love the rich culture, heritage, beaches and the camaraderie with the local people inspired by the spirit of Bahraini women and men. They welcome into their hearts and mind all types of nationalities, tourists and cultures. It also hosts one of my all-time favorite sporting events the Motor-racing F1 Grand Prix. 

Silvester Bonnie Mascarenhas:  Feni, obviously, and then the choriso … the easygoing lifestyle … evening teas and dinners on the veranda, while talking to neighbours. Most of all, I miss talking Konkani and listening to Konkani songs blaring out from the neighbours’ stereo. 

Annette D’Souza:  Spent a quarter of my life in Goa and miss nature at its best - the freshness and greenery of the monsoon season, even though I don’t like the rains...the calls and cries of various birds and animals which I don’t hear over here being cooped up in a flat.... but most of all I miss my family members and the casual meetings with relatives and neighbours almost on a daily basis.  

Flancy Dias: Bahrain does not have rules such as those in other Arab countries. Considering its small size and its exposure to many nationalities, Bahrain has maintained its culture and traditions. Bahrain authorities cater to the needs of expats by allowing them to organize festivals of their traditions and cultures. I love the artificial islands, the flyover and all the big malls. Women are more publicly active in Bahrain than in most Arab countries. Bahrain...I love you!

Manuel Fernandes: Goychi mati, Goenchi Xit-Koddi, Goychem soim ani soimachem songit, Goycho somajik vaur ani Konkani kariavolli. Disa-dispottim Goencheo yadi koxeoch visronk zainam. 

Maria Pereira: I am grateful to Bahraini people for their tolerance, and their rulers for their great hospitality and generosity towards us, to accept us as their own. Diverse nationalities of different religions living in peace and harmony, without any discrimination of race, caste or culture. Bahrain gave me 20 years of my life, two lovely girls and a house back in Goa too. Thank you Bahrain.

Jeffry Da Costa: Goa, forces one to get into the sussegad mode which is quiet welcoming specially after the hustle bustle we endure at work. The beaches, the atmosphere, the restaurants are undisputable and the food, simply the best all the way from the local to the various multi cuisines available. I would say spending 2-3 days in Goa is a sin, months never enough, Life time a dream. This is what I miss of Goa.

Danby D’Costa: I love the festivities of Goans here, that makes Bahrain - a home away from home. It is  international environment  at church and school with nationalities of so many countries coming together. Living in Bahrain gives an opportunity to make friends from all over the world. I enjoy chilling in the big malls, thrilling moments at amusement parks. Come summer – I love to take a splash at Wahoo !

Pio Fernandes: Inundated rain for 5-6 months capable of turning ill designed roads into mini ponds makes one feel “oh it’s my Goa”. And despite its disadvantages to our daily life, our self-reliant or ‘susegad’ attitude has shaped us to adjust our life accordingly. Our food, climate, cultural happenings etc. are the ingredients that make our life content in Goa. And as the elections for the parliamentary seats are fast approaching, the scenes of bickering and bleating adds sometimes to our amusement and at times misery. We in Bahrain definitely miss all this.