CANA 2013-First Christian Joint Marriage Celebration in Mumbai

By Flora DSouza, Jerimeri
Bellevision Media Network

 

Mumbai, 20 Apr 2013: Archdiocese of Mumbai and Bombay Catholic Sabha organized "The First Mass Wedding for 30 Catholic Couples" on Sunday, 14 April, 2013 at St. Xavier’s School Ground, Vile Parle (W) in the presence of many Jesuit Priests, Nuns, religious brothers and sisters and a huge crowd of approx. 5000 people. Auxiliary Bishop of Mumbai Agnelo Gracias concelebrated this Mass along with Parish Priest Fr. Theodore Fernandes and Fr. Bernard, S.V.D. (Parish Priest of St. Theresa Bandra).

 

Procession started with live musical Band and Woman of tribal villages welcomed all the couples by performing their cultural Dance.

 

Bishop in his homily highlighted that “Marriage” is one of the important Sacraments among seven Sacraments and hosting weddings has become expensive these days and it is more difficult for one who is economically challenged so much to say families take loan to get their children marry. We wanted to reach out to such families and help them by arranging a group wedding making it memorable for them. He also urged the congregation to offer their special prayers & love to these couples. It was said that Archdiocese is also open to inter-religion marriages. Among the Catholic couples, there were also two candidates belonging to other faiths. Out of 30 couples, 7 couples from Mumbai and others were from different parts of India like Ranchi, Kolkata etc.

 

The preparation for the wedding started on 11 October, 2012 and the Archdiocese informed all the parishes to make an announcement about this in their own parishes. Couples interested to take part in this wedding, had to first submit their documents, which were scrutinized thoroughly and then had to undergo a marriage preparation course. The 30 couples who exchanged vows were either from the economically weaker sections of the society or those who did not want to spend on a lavish wedding. The couples were between 21 to 45 years of age and some of them being love marriages too. The couples were given a wedding kit consisting of basic things like utensils etc. amounting to Rs.25,000/- each.

 

 

One of the couples said, we participated in this joint marriage because it was a community event. We wanted the whole congregation to be part of our important day and shower their blessings along with blessings of Bishop Swami.

 

Many Catholic families sponsored this event by way of wedding gowns, Sarees, snacks and  dinner. Mass celebration was in Hindi supported by melodious voices of Hindi Choir.

 

Bombay Catholic Sabha President  Gordhan D’souza, Fr.Donal Rodrigues, Social Workers  Goretti and  Vijay gave vote of thanks to all who gave their helping hand to make this event a grand success. Snacks, soft drinks and dinner were served to all.

 

At the end special entertainment performance by beautiful women (young & Sr. Citizens) who danced to the famous tunes of Hindi, Konkani and English like “zubi zubi”, “Ye Ye Katrina” etc.

 

The back-drop of the Stage was decorated with the newly wedded couples:

Keneddy & Monica, Sabunus & Sunita, Shyam & Jenebhiv, Prem & Rashmi, Mukti & Radha, Rakesh & Anima, Anuranjan & Nil Saroj Basanti, Kastu & Jaya, Sushil & Pratima, Rakesh & Phirmila, Sanjay & Kusum, Ronnie & Sushila, Prasan & Prabha, Sumit & Sonali, Nitesh & Shiny, Mithun & Santi Pushpa, Anand & Serophina, Welchboy & Urvi, David & Sarita, Anil & Saloni, Gregory & Christine, Samuel & Geeta, Jerome & Arti, Ronny & Gloria, Ranjit & Vinay Prabha, Walter & Rashmi, Aloysius & Premila, Pratap & Swati, Morish & Shibani, Sanjay & Sonali.

 

The main sponsors  of the Event were:

Mr. Christopher John of M/s. Earnest John Group of Companies
Mr. Thomas W. Pinto of M/s. Seven Islands Shipping Ltd.
Parish Priest of St. Teresa’s Church, Bandra
Ms. Evelyn Wilfred Almeida of M/s. Inspirations
Mr. Walter Buthello of M/s. Bharat Coach Builders Pvt. Ltd,
Mr. Sylvester da Cunha of M/s. DaCunha Communications
Mr. Daniel Fernandes of M/s. Daniel & Sons
Mr. C.A. Anto of M/s. Terminal Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. Geeta Rubin of M/s. Transcon Freight System Pvt Ltd.,
M/s. William Albert Noronha & Family
Mr. Avian Misquitta of Hotel Avion
Mr. Albert W. D’souza, Chairman, Model Co-op. Bank Ltd,
Mr. Oommen C. Chacko of M/s. Professional Courier
Mr. Sylvester D’souza of St. Lawrence High School, Thane
Mr. M.R. Varghese of M/s. Emmar Enterprises
Mr. Henry Lobo of M/s. Haniel Pack
Mr. Vincent Mathias of M/s. Velvin Industries
Mr. John D’silva
Mr. Annuuz Assawa
Mr. Pankaj C. Bhole
M/s. Loretta Gonsalves of M/s. Queen’s Beauty Parlour, Vile Parle
Parish Priest of St. Francis Xavier’s Church and his team
M/S. SQUAREDCIRCLE EVENTS.