Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (RJP)
Pics: Kamal Studios
Mangaluru, May 1: The 42nd community celebration of weddings, popularly known as Rosario mass wedding, took place at Rosario Cathedral here on Sunday May 1.
As many as 26 couples from different places of Mangaluru diocese as well as outside participated in the mass wedding ceremony this year. Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the bishop of Mangaluru solemnized the weddings.
'Rosario mass wedding' is a joint venture of St Vincent De Paul Society (SVP), a worldwide service organization of Catholic laypeople and the Rosario Cathedral, the oldest parish in the land.
The ceremony began with a Eucharistic Mass, with bishop of Mangaluru Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza as the main celebrant. The bishop in his homily said, "Marriages are planned by God. The community weddings event in Rosario has a long history of helping couples celebrate the sacrament in a simple yet meaningful way. Once you take the vows here, you are bound to follow the vows until your death no matter what. You have pledged to take care of your spouse in happiness and sorrow."
Dr Aloysius D’Souza, after the nuptials called upon the couples to love each other unconditionally and to remain faithful to each other all their lives.
Host of clergymen with Monsignor Denis Moras Prabhu, Fr Rocky Fernandes, Fr Vincent D’Souza, Fr Paul Melwyn D’Souza capuchin and Fr Paul Sebastian D’Souza participated in the Eucharist.
In the reception and cultural ceremony which followed later, Dr Edward Nazareth was the chief guest. Dr Nazareth in his address said, "I am happy to note that hundreds of couples have entered into the wedlock at this place over the past four decades. We should encourage simple marriages. When we talk about marriage, we should keep three rings in mind - bearing, sharing and caring. If we follow this rule, our marriages will be successful."
Fr J B Crasta welcomed the gathering including the couples, their families and well wishers. C J Simon and Mary J Pinto, president and secretary of SVP respectively, welcomed the people for lunch and proposed the vote of thanks.
Elizabeth Roche and Dolphy D’Souza the vice president of parish pastoral council participated in the traditional 'Opsun dhivnchem' ceremony where the bride is handed over to the groom's family.
All the donors were presented with roses as token of appreciation for their help. Jude Coelho, vice-president of SVP central council, members of the SVP from Rosario Cathedral as well as from other parishes were present among others.
Francis D’Souza (Penchu Ruzay) compered the cultural ceremony.