KARACHI: Sunday proved to be a day of laughter and joy with exciting games, delicious food and unforgettable memories for the Catholic community at the annual Food & Fun Fair-2026 organised by the St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church.
With renovation work underway at the St Anthony’s Church ahead of its 90-year celebrations, this year the fair had to be moved two doors away to the Convent of Jesus & Mary School on McNeil Road. But no one seemed to face any difficulty in locating the place. The music, audible even from the road, beckoned all to the right spot.
“The stalls are free. And most of the things sold there are donated,” the parish priest at St Anthony’s, Reverend Father Arthur Charles, told Dawn.
“The funds generated from our annual fair are used for medical aid and buying food for the needy, irrespective of their religion or caste,” he added.
Bishop of Karachi says event brings unity within community
He also said that the fair holds special significance this year as contributions are also being generated for the 90-year celebrations of St Anthony’s Church happening early next year.
The Bishop of Karachi, Benny Mario Travas, who was also present on the occasion, said that the fair doesn’t just help collect funds, it also brings unity within the parish.
Well, not just unity, but grit and fortitude, too, as the very first stall selling doughnuts, cheeselets, pickles and chutney had two octogenarian nuns, Sister Monica and Sister Julie, having prepared everything themselves.
Another stall, called ‘Goan Shack’, had another upbeat octogenarian grandmother, Edhina Fernandes, running a tight ship with son Marshall, daughter-in-law Lovita and granddaughters Michelle and Kristen selling Goan delicacies such as Sorpotel, Choris Pao and Prawn Balchao.
At the ‘St Vincent De Paul’ stall, Leslie Rodrigues’ well-organised and efficient team of friends and family members, this year in identical peach colour shirts (they wore blue in 2024 and brown in 2025) as usual had everything from pickles to cakes, biscuits, snacks and ice cream to offer. In the sweltering heat, their mango ice cream was to die for.
A regular volunteer at the stall, Maria Soares, said that due to the change of venue they could not have a stall as big as they used to have though they made up for it by having two stalls facing each other.
At another stall named ‘Desi Taste’ the mango keri juice and gol gappay could also not be missed. One also met there a young man, Umair Allahditta, who a guest thought stood out from the other vendors who all happened to be Christian. “But I’m also Christian,” he smiled. “Allahditta is my Punjabi family name,” he explained.
It was not just food items being sold at the stalls. There were also clothing items. At the ‘St John’s Study Centre Mom’s Association’ stall, Sister Kim and Mrs Salome Shahid were selling pretty printed cotton nighties stitched by their volunteer team.
At the ‘Filipino Community’ stall they had pre-loved clothing items selling for Rs100 a piece. The ‘White Elephant’ stall also had people looking through the bin for similar stuff for the same price. “But we also have old books and children’s toys for Rs100 each,” informed Renee de Lima, a volunteer there.
Many stalls also sold chunky jewellery. More excitement was witnessed at the many stalls offering games along with raffle draws. There was also a medical camp for free check-ups at the fair.
Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2026