The endogamous Knanaya Catholics in the Indian state of Kerala have marked the end of their centuries-old practice of not marrying outside the close-knit community when one of their parishes allowed a parishioner to marry a woman outside their archdiocese.
On April 15, a priest in the Kottayam Archdiocese allowed parishioner Justin John to engage with Vijimol Shaji of Tellicherry Archdiocese without John losing his membership in the community.
The 31-year-old John from St. Anne’s Parish in the northern Kasargod district had his engagement ceremony at St. Francis Xavier’s Church in Kottody village on April 17. Read more