Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (MM/GA)

Mangalore, May 3: The 33rd Mass Marriage ceremony being organized by St Vincent De Paul Society (SVP) of Rosario Cathedral here will be held on Sunday May 6.

This was announced in a press conference SVP president of Rosario Church Rudolph Tauro here on Thursday May 3.

This year a total of 20 couples will unite in matrimony during the mass marriage ceremony.  As usual every couple will be presented with Rs 4,000 as cash deposit and gifts including vessels, a shirt, a trouser and sari etc worth Rs 2,000.  Moreover, a maximum of 50 guests of each couple will be served meal on the wedding day.

The mass marriage ceremony at Rosario started way back in 1976 with the aim of helping those men and women who find it difficult to marry owing to financial problems.  In the last 32 years a total of 476 couples have married.  Of recent even some couples from well-to-do-families who prefer to a have low profile and simple wedding resort to mass marriage.  Over the years not only the couples of Mangalore diocese but also those hailing from Bhatkal, Chikamaglur, Kalasa, Shimoga and Mysore have availed the benefit.

The Vincent De Paul Society of Rosario Church is the first association in India to have started such an initiative within the Catholic community.

Fr Stany Goveas, parish priest of Rosario Cathedral, Cynthia Faraes and Lawrence Pinto were also present at the press conference.