Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai
Dubai, Feb 14: World Marriage Day was celebrated on a grand scale at St Mary’s Church here on Monday February 12 evening.
Before the mass, a brief history and purpose on World Marriage Day was given by Thomas and Angela D’Silva. Concelebrated solemn started at 8 pm with Fr Fredrick as the main celebrant.
The grand procession started from the main entrance door of the church with 49 couples, who completed 25 years and more of their married life joining the procession along with the altar servers and priests of the parish. The Papal Blessing placard was carried in the procession and placed in the sanctuary on a decorated stand.
“World Marriage Day honors husband and wife as head of the family, the basic unit of society. It salutes the beauty of their faithfulness, sacrifice and joy in daily married life” said Fr Fredrick in his inaugural prayer.
Fr Peter, parish priest, delivered a touching homily praising the married couples for their dedication and sacrifice in bringing up their children.
After the homily, all couples gathered renewed their marriage vows once again. As per the advance registration, there were 11 couples who completed 25 years of married life in the month of February. However, three couples came forward to the sanctuary and exchanged the rings.
The notable couple was Rony and Aboline D’Dunha who will complete 25 years of married life on February 19. Parish priest Fr Peter thanked them in a special way for their dedication and selfless service to the parish of St Mary’s Dubai. Rony D’Cunha is the Chief Captain of the Volunteers Sodality and Aboline is the current vice-president of parish council.
The complete proceedings were organized by the Marriage Encounter Group in Dubai who successfully celebrated World Marriage Day for the 5th consecutive year in Dubai. Marriage Encounter Choir was in attendance led by Nelson Miranda.
The Highlight of the celebration was felicitation of the Longest Married Couple, present at the service by Fr Peter. The couple was Peter and Zabel Menezes who completed 62 years of married life. They were called to the sanctuary along with another longest married couple Fred Ellis and Mavis Ellis who completed diamond jubilee last month. They were offered gifts, flower bouquets and certificates by the Marriage Encounter Group.