NOEL AT CHURCH OF CHRIST THE KING, PARK CIRCUS

 By Isaac Gomes

While the world was on tenterhooks with twin sieges in Sydney and Belgium, Kolkata, the cultural capital of India, was busy with something else.  It was a carol evening, aptly named Noel, at Church of Christ the King, Park Circus.

The crowd - mainly youth in jelled hairdo and exuding stardom - waited with bated breath, until the programme started at 6 p.m. with the lighting of the lamp by very young curate, Fr Robert Johnson.       

Seven groups took part in this event, intended to roll out Christmas spirit in Kolkata.   The Class IX students from Don Bosco School Park Circus started the show, with Adrian (of Class XI) at the keyboard.  They struck the right chord by putting up a lively medley where song and sound synchronised effortlessly.  After Don Bosco School, the choir from St. Mary's Ripon Street took the stage, led by Dominic Saldanha, whose keyboard skills would make Adnan Samy jealous!

 “Let the Light shine and let our Shining Stars perform!”  declared Rev. Fr. Vincent Lobo, Parish Priest and Dean of Calcutta Archdiocese. After his encouraging speech, the Altar Servers youth group of Christ the King appeared in the full gear of Altar servers and sang three wonderful songs; Mohit Pradhan was at the keyboard.  

Then it was time for Christmas Carols in Bengali. Auxilium Parish put up two lively songs, followed by the women’s group of Legion of Mary, Christ the King. They just sang their hearts out! Dominic Saha and (once again,) Dominic Saldanha left the audience spellbound with their mastery of the keyboard.   The Bengali Choir of Christ the King directed by Dilip Rozario also sang to a nice tempo and ICYM of Christ the King provided the icing on the cake.

Kudos to Fr Vincent Lobo for being the springboard of creativity to our local church. We are already feeling very Christmassy!