Udupi: The St. John the Evangelist Church at Pangla (Shankerpura) in the Udupi Diocese came alive with joy, gratitude, and togetherness on Sunday, October 5, as more than 200 married couples gathered to celebrate Couple’s Day 2025. The annual event, organised by the parish’s Family Commission, became a moving tribute to lifelong companionship, with special honours conferred upon 14 couples who completed 50 years of marriage.
The day began with a solemn Thanksgiving Eucharistic Celebration, concelebrated by parish priest Fr. Dr. Anil Prakash Castelino, along with assistant priests Fr. Jassyl Coutinho and Fr. Rolwyn Fernandes. The Mass, offered in gratitude for the gift of family and love, set a deeply spiritual tone for the day’s festivities.
Following the liturgy, the celebration continued at the newly inaugurated Sabha Bhavan Auditorium, where the felicitation programme unfolded in an atmosphere of cheer and reverence. Wilfred R. D’Souza, noted Konkani writer and editor of the parish magazine, compered the event, guiding the audience through a series of moving and joyful moments.
The event was inaugurated with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, symbolising the union of generations. Dignitaries including Janet Barboza, a leading women’s activist from Mudarangadi Parish, Leslie Aroza, Director of the Family Commission of the Udupi Diocese, and lay leaders John Martis, Gabriel Martis, and Joseph Castelino joined in lighting the lamp alongside young couple DJ Rayan and Priya Rodrigues.
A heartwarming cake-cutting ceremony, led by the parish’s eldest couple Ambros Christian Mathias and family, added sweetness to the occasion, as applause echoed through the auditorium for those who have lived decades of shared faith and commitment.
Introducing the chief guest, Jacinta D’Sa of the Family Commission highlighted Janet Barboza’s long-standing contributions to family ministry. In her address, Barboza drew from her own 33 years of married life, remarking, “In earlier times, marriages endured through patience, faith, and sacrifice. True love thrives not on perfection, but on understanding and forgiveness.”
Leslie Aroza, in his keynote address, described marriage as “a divine vocation equal in sanctity to priesthood and consecrated life.” He called on couples to cherish one another and resist modern challenges that erode family unity. “Old marriages endured through storms. Today, many break for small reasons. We must bring back time, conversation, and gratitude into our homes,” he urged.
Fr. Dr. Anil Prakash Castelino extended the message of the day by inviting the community to celebrate not just couples but also widows and families who continue to live in faith. Citing Pope Francis, he reminded the faithful that “the Church walks together as one family towards the fullness of divine life.”
John Martis, Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Council, observed that wedding jubilees serve as “beacons of faith and fidelity for younger generations, proving that love deepens with time and prayer.”
The day concluded with a vote of thanks by Edwin Lasrado, representing the Family Commission, followed by a fellowship meal that fostered camaraderie among parish families. The afternoon came to a light-hearted close with games and humour-filled interactions, once again hosted by Wilfred R. D’Souza.
As laughter, music, and heartfelt gratitude filled the air, Couple’s Day 2025 at Pangla Parish became a vibrant testimony to enduring love celebrating not only the bond between husband and wife but also the faith that sustains it across generations.