Community Celebration of Weddings at Rosario Needs Generous Heart

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Apr 7: It is said that marriages are made in heaven but celebrated on earth. Marriage is just not a memorable event but a milestone in one's life. Perhaps this is why marriage is considered sacred in every religion and every community. Keeping aside all its spiritual values and factors, marriage is also a celebration that brings about a lot of joy not only to the persons getting married but even to all those who are near and dear to him/her.

Because it is a celebration, today marriage functions have become a costly affair. While ‘getting married’ is not a costly affair, ‘celebrating marriage’ does involve a huge expense. It is everyone's dream to make his/her marriage as grand as possible so that not only the ones getting married but even those who attend it remember it for long. Though a certain section of the society may say that it is unnecessary to spend lacs of rupees for a mere 2-3 hour celebration, the bottom-line is that no one wants to make his/her marriage a mere simple affair.

File Pictures

While it is not a problem to celebrate marriage for those who can afford, it is indeed a difficult task for those who are on the weaker side of economy. A close look at our society will surely let us know about several cases where persons have not married just because they could not afford the expenses involved in it.

It is at this point that the importance of mass or community marriage is felt. While Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala has successfully been conducting mass marriage for long, other communities too now have taken a cue and have started organizing mass marriages. After Dharmasthala, mass marriages organized by St Vincent Paul Society at Rosario Cathedral in Mangalore are perhaps more famous. To date 504 couples have been joined in Holy Matrimony at Rosario Cathedral in the last 34 years. Last year 21 couples were united in matrimony.

The annual community celebration of weddings at Rosario Cathedral has now become a much appreciated feature, beautifully organized under the auspices of the society of St Vincent De Paul.

This year the 35th mass weddings will be held on Sunday May 3.  Couples who would like participate in the mass weddings are requested file their application by Saturday April 12.

This noble venture is only possible with the support and encouragement of concerned and caring individuals. The purpose of these mass marriages is to help young men and women from less privileged economic background to marry with dignity and solemnity at minimal cost. The Society of St Vincent De Paul, in addition to bearing all the costs of the celebration, also gifts the newly-wed with necessary household items, dress materials and a cash gift (FD). In all, the Society spends about Rs 13,000/- per couple. Due to practical reasons the offer is only to Catholic Christians.

The organizers therefore have appealed the donors, associations and parishes to voluntarily contribute their mite towards the programme. Those who are interested can contribute in the following categories:

As a founder at Rs 15,000 and above
As a sponsor to a couple at Rs 10,000/-
As an individual contributor.

Your donation and help towards community celebration of weddings could be sent either to Community

Celebration of Weddings
SVP, Cathedral
Mangalore

or
to the credit of
SB A/C No 23167
MCC Bank, Hampankatta Branch
Mangalore - 575001 by means of an account payee cheque/draft.

This is indeed a noble cause which needs to be supported and encouraged by all. This is not a tradition that needs to be preserved but it is a mission that should be continued. Your generous contribution will ensure that this unique mission of bringing a smile on the faces of the less privileged is continued without any problem in the coming years.