22 October 2023
Davanagere: Four couples of St Thomas Church, Davanagere in the Diocese of Shimoga, took covenant oath in the presence of a large gathering of faithful during the Sunday Mass on 22 October 2023. Fr Anthony Nazareth, the Parish Priest, in his introduction to the mass, highlighted the roles of MFC. Fr Duming Dias, Director, Sanjeevana-Family Commission, preached on the mission and Spirituality of the Missionary Families of Christ.
After having gone through sufficient training and preparations - two days' of Christian Life Seminar and 8 lessons on Covenant Recollection- and after making sufficient discernment, four families - Mr Dayasagar and Mrs Babitha Fernandes, Mr Thomas Minejus and Mrs Rishika K J, Mr Maxim Tellis and Mrs Severine Tellis and Mr Anthony and Mrs Arokiamary took the oath, dedicating themselves to the mission of the church. They were presented with a certificate, thus formally inducting them into MFC.
The Felicitation Program that followed soon after the Holy Mass witnessed true joy and happiness in the couples who took the oath. Fr Anthony Nazareth hailed the courage of the couples to come forward to dedicate themselves for the church and live upto the expectations of MFC. Fr Duming Dias, Director for Sanjeevana-Family Commission, highlighted the four pillars of the Catholic Christian Families, viz, Faith, Liturgy/Sacraments, Life in Christ/ Parish and Prayer. He also stressed that by their life and witness, they should catch one(family) for the next Christian Life Seminar. Mr Preetham D'Souza presented the couples with rosaries.
During the felicitation ceremony, Mr Arogyaswamy welcomed the gathering while Mr David Raj proposed vote of thanks. Among dignitaries being present were Mr Preetham D'Souza and Mr Canute, from MFC Bangalore unit. The family members of the couples along with the members of MFC Shimoga attended the event. The program concluded with a thanksgiving hymn.
