The Diocesan Family Commission successfully organized a Marriage Enrichment Program at Holy Rosary Church, Yellapur, on 19 July 2026, bringing together 25 married couples for a day of reflection, learning, and fellowship. The program was designed to strengthen Christian family life by enriching couples in the areas of parenting, communication, intimacy, and marital commitment.

The program began with a warm welcome and the support of the Parish Priest, Fr. Royston Gonsalves, whose encouragement and excellent organization ensured the smooth conduct of the event.

The first session, titled “Upbringing of Children”, was led by Mrs. Fatima Gonsalves of Kumta. She emphasized the responsibility of parents as the first educators of their children in faith and values, highlighting the importance of prayer, love, discipline, and leading by example in nurturing children.

The second session was presented by Mr. Stephen Almeida of Kumta on “Intimacy, Communication, and the Marital Bond”. He encouraged couples to strengthen their relationship through open communication, mutual respect, forgiveness, and spending quality time together, thereby deepening their commitment to the sacrament of marriage.

Following the sessions, the participants took part in group discussions where they reflected on various aspects of family life and shared their personal experiences. The discussions were lively and meaningful, allowing couples to learn from one another while receiving practical guidance from the resource persons on addressing family challenges in the light of Christian values and the teachings of the Church.

The program concluded with a feedback session, during which participants expressed their appreciation for the practical and relevant content of the program. Many couples requested a similar follow-up program to continue supporting and enriching their family life.

The Family Commission expressed its sincere gratitude to Fr. Royston Gonsalves for his generous hospitality and wholehearted support. Appreciation was also extended to Fr. Sachin D’Souza, Director of the Diocesan Family Commission, for coordinating and facilitating the successful organization of the program.

The Marriage Enrichment Program proved to be a fruitful initiative, renewing the commitment of participating couples to live their vocation of marriage with greater faith, love, and responsibility while fostering stronger Christian families within the parish community.