The Schoenstatt Fathers of the MTA Province in India organized a memorable candlelight dinner for couples at the Madha Maiyam in Madurai on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Madurai, an ancient temple city* in South India, holds historical significance, with the first Schoenstatt Shrine linked to the Secular Institute of the Schoenstatt Fathers in this country being established there in 2000. To commemorate the Silver Jubilee of this shrine, the Schoenstatt Fathers have been organizing various programs, and one of the most heartwarming events was the candlelight dinner for couples.

17 couples, ranging from the elderly to younger pairs, participated in this program. The event took place in the beautifully illuminated courtyard of Kentenich Kalloori. The evening began at 6:30 p.m. with a traditional Indian welcome, where participants were greeted with the application of “Santhanam” and “kumkum” on their foreheads. Indian women have a tradition of wearing flowers in their hair, and the men were invited to place flowers on their wives’ heads—a gesture that was new for many and one they thoroughly enjoyed.

After the warm welcome, the program commenced with a prayer and reading a Bible passage. The theme of the evening, “Bridging the Gap”, was introduced, setting the tone for the event. The evening was divided into three segments…

First Segment

The first segment began with a thought-provoking question: “What about your partner that has transformed your house into a home?” Each couple received a picture of a house and was asked to reflect and write down the positive aspects of their partner that made their house into a home. This exercise created a positive atmosphere from the outset. The five dimensions of intimacy—physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual—were elaborated upon during this segment. A warm bowl of soup was served to the participants, allowing for reflection and connection.

Second Segment

The couples were invited to assess their relationship in the second segment by scoring the five intimacy dimensions. They discussed with their partners what was working well in their relationship and areas that could benefit from growth. Fr. Celestine Irudayaraj guided the discussion, explaining why intimacy gaps can occur in relationships. As the couples reflected on their scores, starters were served, offering an opportunity to further bond and discuss.

Third Segment

As the evening continued, the main course of the meal was served. Following dinner, couples participated in an exercise designed to help bridge any gaps in intimacy. Each couple was given sticks to symbolize the creation of a “bridge” to their partner. They were asked to reflect on practical steps to strengthen their relationship. Couples wrote down their thoughts on the sticks, which served as tangible reminders of their commitment to one another.

Renewed love

The evening concluded with a prayer, where the couples held hands and prayed for one another. The Covenant Prayer was recited together. Feedback from the participants showed immense appreciation for the event, with many expressing a desire for more programs like this to help couples understand each other better. This was the first time such an event of this kind had been organized in Madurai, and it provided an invaluable opportunity for couples to spend quality, personal time together—something that is often rare in our culture and the busy rhythms of life.

*Temple city: City characterized by a large number of Hindu temples