The Ladainha was conducted at SJBHS on October 28, 2023 at 6pm. We started the Rosary in Konkani before moving in procession as each decade continued in English. The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary was held in front of the grotto where the choir, led by Aldrin and Elaine D'Souza, led the congregation in Latin.

Big thanks to Monica Robinson for making candle holders for the Rosary and candy baskets for the children. Food boxes were picked up from Knowhere, a big thanks to the amazing selection of snacks. Wilma Pereira brought boiled Channa with Coconut and Aiona Goes brought Dose from Goa.

As someone who doesn't speak Konkani, being able to stay connected to the language through prayer is a great feeling. It takes time to get used to saying the prayers in Konkani and the Latin hymns aren't too easy as well. However, practicing with the Choir every week reduced my anxiety quite a bit.

All in all, I had a lovely experience being part of the choir and attending the Ladainha. It's become a tradition of sorts, that I attend every year and look forward to it. I think it's important that both adults and youngsters join in this celebration of Mother Mary. There's a lot of room for improvement to bring in more musicians and attendees and I look forward to next year's Ladainha.