Second session of Let’s Talk Faith took place at Deepagam Conference Room on February 29, 2024 at The Citadel, Kilpauk, Chennai. Eleven senior and young couples (twenty-one participants) were invited for this Open Talk Forum (largely comprising of staff from The Citadel, SIGA, Don Bosco College of Arts and Science, Kilpauk). Dr. Cinthya Alexander (Gynecologist and Obstetrician) also from Kilpauk, Chennai was today’s Forum moderator. Seven Salesians from Chennai Province along with Rev. Fr. Arul Raj belonging to Holy Cross Fathers participated in this Forum as a sign of synodal presence. Incidentally, Fr. Arul Raj is a secretory to CCBI Family Commission for twenty-years. Fr. Jesudoss, Director-Deepagam welcomed everyone present for the Open Talk and Fr. Sagayaraj Kasi (Vice-Principal) gave introductory note on the Sacrament of Matrimony as covenant; he added that family life must lead one to God. Fr. Arul Kumar (Canonist) from Becchi-Don Bosco put forth three phases of the Sacrament as ‘Preparation for Marriage, Sacramental Moment of Marriage and Life in Marriage’. He invited the couples to share their experiences while preparing themselves for their marriage. All family people shared their personal experiences in the form of life testimony proving that married people have life stories/memories most cherished by them; but not transformed into faith experiences in life.

Couples agreed that choice of partners in their life was the Will of God. Evidently it is found through personal testimonies that married life is not God-centered, now-a-days; because, there wasn’t ‘sacramental sense’ in married life experiences. However, Dr. Cinthya (forum moderator) positively pointed to everyone present that all couples are loving their spouses deeply. She encouraged the couples to have deep faith in God and practice giving-up one’s egoism in life with a spirit of sacrifice. From her experience, she suggested the couples to practice four “E” - Empowerment, Equality, Empathy, and Education in their married life. Success in marriage, she said was ‘attitude of sharing’ that include family togetherness, friends, health, spirituality, and witnessing God in life. She quoted St Paul: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7) for the attitude of married people. Concluding the first session, Fr. Arul Raj reminded the participants: “EGO is Edging God Out”.

Second Session began on Catholic Marriage Vows. Participants shared difficult times of their life during which their spouses were supportive and thus were faithful to their marriage vows. The experiences shared were in reference to their sickness, danger to life, and healing experiences. The forum made the participants realize that married life is a Christian vocation. One of the participant, while sharing her difficult moment in family, convincingly said: “Christian life is holy life” and had opted for pro-life choice.

Fr. Arul Raj reminded the participants: “Family that prays together, stays together.” In the past, arranged marriages involve scrutiny by the family elders. Love marriages in the present-time most often are mixed marriages (inter-religious marriages); and the present trend is married single life.

Vatican II and St John Paul II always taught the faithful that family is a domestic church. Loving family is a living church. When participants were asked how happy they are in family life, they responded 30% happy, 50% happy and “100% happy and 100% sad”.

From management point of view, Fr. Arul Raj inspired couples to practice - five “D” for happy family life: Desire, Dialogue, Discussion, Decision, Do It (action). All relational problem stems from lack of communication. Spouses must give quality time, touch, helping hand, and gifting. Covenantal Relationship must be lasting, unconditional, and witness to God. Just as Jesus Christ loves His Church, spouses must love their partner. He emphasized that prayer life is important for the married life. Salesian father in the panel said: “married life is fulfilled only when it is God-centered.” Gospel’s Tabor-Experience must be lived in family life. Fr. Arul Kumar concluded the forum with parting message to the participants: ‘Be close to God, Read Lectio Divina, and Pray the Rosary’.

Fr. Jesudoss, Deepagam Director gave the vote of thanks and participants took group photo. The session lasted for three-hours in the evening from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM. The entire Forum proceedings were recorded by Deepagam and DBICA personnel for video production and telecasting in YouTube channel.