The couples had dreamt of celebrating a wedding surrounded by fellow twins since childhood (ETV Bharat)
While the wedding rites were officiated by twin priests, Anto Pezhumkadu and Ajo Pezhumkadu, twin brothers Geron James and Johan James served as altar boys.
The unique wedding saw Akhil K Thomas and Nikhil K Thomas, twin sons of Kunjumon Thomas and Jomol of Vettuparambu, tie the knot with Maggie Mary Thomas and Maria Mary Thomas, twin daughters of Tomichan and Marykutty of Kulathur.
Adding to the uniqueness of the occasion, the wedding rites were officiated by twin priests, Fr Anto Pezhumkadu and Fr Ajo Pezhumkadu of the Kanjirappally Diocese, while twin brothers Geron James and Johan James from Pala served as altar boys.
According to the families, the couples had dreamt of celebrating a wedding surrounded by fellow twins since childhood. They even made special efforts to find twin priests to solemnise the marriage, turning their long-cherished wish into reality
The unusual ceremony attracted the attention of relatives, friends and local residents, with photographs and videos of the wedding quickly gaining popularity on social media.
The twin bridegrooms are employed in the Merchant Navy, while the twin brides work in the IT sector. Family members said the ceremony marked not only the union of two couples but also the coming together of two families that shared the same joy and excitement.
Speaking after the ceremony, the couples said they were delighted that their childhood dream had finally come true. The officiating priests also described the occasion as a memorable and rare experience, saying it was a blessing to solemnise the marriage of twin siblings beginning a new chapter of life together.
Guests described the ceremony as a heartwarming celebration of family bonds and togetherness, making it one of the most unusual weddings witnessed in Kerala in recent years.
Twin priests with the twins who married another twins. Photo: www.irinjalakuda.com
Twin brothers marry twin sisters accompanied by twin page boys and twin flower girls. Oh, did we tell you the wedding was officiated by twin priests?
It’s not often you see many identical twins together, if not for some reality show competition.
In an unusual wedding that happened in the St Xavier’s Church in Thrissur district in Kerala, twin priests – Reji and Roji – officiated the wedding ceremony of identical twin brothers – Dilraj and Dilkar – to identical twin sisters – Reema and Reena.
The couples were accompanied by identical twin page boys and identical twin flower girls. To add to the confusion, all twin siblings colour coordinated their attire as well.
The photo might trick your eyes because the resemblance is uncanny!
Led by the dedication of his late wife and a friendship with a deacon, a World War II veteran has joined the Catholic Church at almost 100 years old.
Father Edson Elizarraras, pastor of St. Christopher in Marana, Arizona, gives Raymond Martin, 98, a blessing. (photo: Photo courtesy of Deacon Jack Trevino)
A World War II Army veteran, Raymond “Ray” Martin Sr., has joined the Catholic Church at 98 years old.
Before finding his way to the Church in Tuscon, Arizona, Martin served in Okinawa, Japan, and in the Philippines; he then spent 27 years as a police officer in Illinois.
Martin’s connection to Catholicism began with his late wife, Ann Marie.
When Deacon Jacinto “Jack” Trevino, a hospice chaplain and parochial associate at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in the Diocese of Tuscan, met with Martin in December 2025, the two bonded over a shared background in law enforcement and spoke about his wife and her faith.
“Ray is an amazing person,” Deacon Trevino told EWTN News. “We hit it off from the beginning. We talked about the job a lot — and shared some laughs.”
It wasn’t all laughs, though. As they got to know each other, their conversations grew serious.
“Ray talked about his wife, who passed,” Deacon Trevino recalled. “He said she was Catholic and he would attend Mass with her and pray the Rosary.”
“One day he mentioned that he was never baptized or had any of the sacraments and he wanted to be Catholic,” Deacon Trevino continued. “We began deeper discussions of the faith.”
Martin, it turned out, had a deep faith in Christ and in the Eucharist.
“He expressed true belief in Christ and the teaching of the Catholic Church,” Deacon Trevino said. “He expressed his belief in the Eucharist and the importance of baptism and confirmation. Ray said that even though he was not Catholic, he would always pray the Act of Contrition.”
Raymond Martin Sr. is baptized at 98 years old by his friend and confirmation sponsor, Deacon Jack Trevino. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Deacon Jack Trevino
At the Edge of Death, Life
Deacon Trevino, along with Father Edson Elizarraras, pastor of St. Christopher in Marana, Arizona, had a sense of urgency in bringing those sacraments to Martin.
Martin has survived a stroke, multiple falls and other health concerns in recent years, even bordering on the brink of death in May after he suffered another stroke.
“Remarkably, Ray pulled through,” Father Elizarraras told EWTN News. “It was after this stroke that he clearly expressed his desire to become Catholic and receive the sacraments of initiation.”
Deacon Trevino and Father Elizarraras approached the bishop about advancing Martin’s sacraments. Usually, would-be converts to Catholicism go through a one- to two-year Order of Christian Initiation of Adults before receiving the sacraments.
“Though he married a Catholic woman and faithfully attended Holy Mass with her prior to her passing, Deacon Trevino noted that Ray always felt unworthy to receive the sacraments, despite believing in God,” Father Elizarraras said.
“Ray came to tears expressing his desire for the Catholic faith, sharing that throughout his life, he would pray the Act of Contrition and the Rosary,” Father Elizarraras said. “The more Deacon Trevino visited him, the more questions Ray asked, showing he was fully convinced and willingly prepared to receive sacramental grace.”
One of the Most Important Days
So the date was set for July 16; the location, the assisted living home where Martin resided. The facility manager had put up banners with crosses to prepare the living room for the celebration, according to Deacon Trevino.
On the day of the celebration, Father Elizarraras gave Martin the short-order form of OCIA, which is written for those in near danger of death.
“The moment I approached to greet him, he began to cry and smile; he knew this was one of the most important days of his life,” Father Elizarraras said.
World War II Army veteran Raymond “Ray” Martin Sr. receives his first Communion at age 98. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Deacon Jack Trevino
Residents, caregivers and Martin’s family attended the Mass.
“Beautifully, at the start of the liturgy, Mr. Raymond asked to be helped closer to the small, dignified altar we had prepared,” Father Elizarraras said. “He wanted to hear clearly and see God at work.”
“When I asked him, ‘Dear brother, Raymond, you have asked to be baptized because you wish, as Christians do, to have eternal life. … This is the faith of Christians. Do you know this?’ He responded firmly, ‘I do, Yes!’ and wept tears of joy,” Father Elizarraras recalled.
“Throughout the rite, he remained deeply attentive, smiling and occasionally meditating with his eyes closed,” Father Elizarraras continued. “When the moment came for his baptism, he opened his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest, recognizing this supernatural encounter with God.”
Deacon Trevino described the day as “powerful.”
Father Edson Elizarraras, pastor of St. Christopher Parish in Marana, Arizona, celebrates Mass at 98-year-old Raymond Martin’s baptism, confirmation, and first Communion on July 16, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Deacon Jack Trevino
“I was so blessed to humbly participate and witness how Christ, the bridegroom, pours out his love and mercy through his bride, the Church, in the sacraments for his people,” Deacon Trevino said.
Afterward, they celebrated with cupcakes — and made plans for how Martin would practice his newfound faith from the assisted living home.
“First thing he asked me and my wife, Elena, was how he could receive Communion again since he can’t get around to go to Mass,” Deacon Trevino said. “We promised that we would bring him Communion directly and he could watch Mass on EWTN.”
Martin asked for a medal of St. Christopher; he’d “always wanted one,” he told Deacon Trevino, and St. Christopher was now, officially, his confirmation saint.
At the baptism, confirmation, and first Communion of Raymond Martin. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Deacon Jack Trevino
Encountering Christ
Father Elizarraras left the celebration that day “with immense joy and peace.”
“In Rayʼs response to grace, I saw a soul truly coming alive,” Father Elizarraras said.
The celebration brought to Father Elizarraras’ mind a line from Deus Caritas Est, “God Is Love,” an encyclical letter written by Pope Benedict XVI in 2005.
“Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction,” Father Elizarraras said, quoting Benedict.
“For Ray, at 98 years old, this sacrament was that very encounter, giving his final days a glorious new horizon,” Father Elizarraras said.
A week later, Deacon Trevino’s wife, Elena, a lay ecclesial minister, brought Martin Communion.
“She read the Gospel for the upcoming Mass, the Parable of the Buried Treasure,” Deacon Trevino said. “She told Ray that he was the man in the parable who found the great treasure. He was very happy.”
Jarvish Macwan the first male Football referee from Gujarat earned admission in AFC, Malaysia.
Gandhinagar’s well-known national football referee Jarvish Macwan has been selected for the prestigious Referees Academy (Batch 8) of the Asian Football Confederation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He has become the first male football referee from Gujarat to gain admission to this academy.
Macwan began his career as a national player in the Under-17 and Under-19 categories. In 2017, he started his refereeing journey with local-level matches. Gradually, after clearing State Level-8, Level-7, and Level-6, he became a Level-5 National Referee in 2022. After being selected for the AIFF’sProject Future (PFI) batch in 2019, he served as a reserve referee/fourth official in the Santosh Trophy final and also officiated as a center referee in the Durand Cup and the I-League.
During this three-year course, which will begin in October in Malaysia, there will be six offline exposure classes along with online sessions. The program includes rigorous assessment of the Laws of the Game, fitness, and personality. After completing this training, if Jarvish is selected in Grade A or Grade B, he will have the opportunity to become a FIFA Elite Referee. He would then be eligible to officiate as a referee in international competitions, including the FIFA World Cup.
This remarkable achievement reflects years of dedication, discipline, and commitment to excellence. This milestone is not only a personal success but also a proud moment for the entire football fraternity of Gujarat. We wish him continued success as he represents India on the Asian stage and beyond.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup was the 23rd FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international men’s soccer championship contested by the national teams of the member associations of FIFA. The tournament began on June 11, 2026, and concluded on July 19 with Spain winning the championship for the second time. It was jointly hosted by 16 cities—11 in the United States, 3 in Mexico, and 2 in Canada. The tournament was the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted by three countries and the first to include 48 teams, an expansion from the previous 32-team format. FIFA World Cup 2026 selected 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video assistant referees for the tournament. (Wikipedia)
The 2030 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to be the 24th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football tournament that is contested by the men’s national teams of the member associations of FIFA. The tournament is planned to be jointly hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain. (Wikipedia)
Jagadish Christian with Sir Garry Sobers in New York 1989-1990
Sir Garfield Sobers, the great West Indies cricketer widely regarded as the finest all-rounder in the sport’s history, has died aged 89. His death at his home in Barbados only 11 days shy of his 90th birthday was announced by Cricket West Indies on Friday, with the simple line: “A great innings has come to an end. In our hearts, now and forever, Sir Garfield Sobers.”
The prime minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, paid tribute to Sobers in a post on social media and said that Friday has been declared a day of national mourning – flags will be flown at half-mast and no official functions will take place. A state funeral will follow in the coming days.
Sobers was the first batter to hit six sixes in an over when playing for Nottinghamshire at Glamorgan’s St Helen’s ground in Swansea in 1968. But it was just one of many feats in an illustrious career featuring 93 Test matches for West Indies – including 39 as captain – from 1954 to 1974.
The late, revered broadcaster and former Australia captain Richie Benaud once described Sobers as “the greatest all-round cricketer the world has seen”.
Benaud wrote: “Sobers was a brilliant batsman, splendid fielder, particularly close to the wicket, and a bowler of extraordinary skill, whether bowling with the new ball, providing orthodox left-arm spin or over-the-wrist spin.”
From a humble background, Sobers first caught the eye playing club cricket, before turning out for the Barbados police aged 15 and making his first-class debut a year later against India at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown. His Test debut for West Indies aged 17 followed in 1954 against Len Hutton’s England at Sabina Park in Jamaica.
His maiden Test century against Pakistan at the same ground in 1958 secured his place in history early: an unbeaten 365 that set the record for the highest individual Test score. It stood for 36 years until Brian Lara’s 375 against England in Antigua broke it in 1994, with Sobers at the ground to congratulate him.
“I had to be there for Brian,” Sobers told the Guardian in 2002. “There was a lot of pressure on him, people telling him not to break the record, to preserve it for the legend. So I spoke to him in the dressing room during his innings and said: ‘Go out and do it, man.’ Records are there to be broken. I don’t cling to the idea that nobody else can do that.”
Overall, the left-handed Sobers scored 8,032 Test runs at an average of 57.78 – the fourth-highest average in history among players with over 5,000 runs – and took 235 wickets at 34.03. In 383 first-class matches, including time with South Australia and Nottinghamshire, he scored more than 28,000 runs and took more than 1,000 wickets.
On his record six sixes in an over for Notts, hit off the bowling of Malcolm Nash, Sobers said: “It was only about the fifth six that I thought: ‘Here’s something that hasn’t been done, why not try it?’
“Records have never meant a lot to me. If I have ever broken records, they have come in the stride of my duty to my team.”
Nash, who died in 2019, said: “He hit them all pretty cleanly except one. The second ball was pretty dramatic. It nearly destroyed the [nearby] pub after hitting the guttering.
“It went like a tracer bullet and was still going up when it hit the building.”
Sobers was knighted for his services to cricket by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975, with the investiture taking place at the Garrison Racecourse in Barbados – a mile from his childhood home in the parish of St Michael.
One of seven children, Sobers was raised by his mother after his father, a merchant seaman, drowned when his ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1942 during the second world war. Sobers was five at the time.
He was awarded the status of National Hero of Barbados in 1998 and two years later named one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the century, second to Sir Don Bradman and sitting ahead of Sir Jack Hobbs, Shane Warne and Viv Richards in the voting. He also sits No 1 among all-rounders in the International Cricket Council’s historical rankings.
Statue of Sir Garry Sobers
Kishore Shallow, president of Cricket West Indies, wrote: “In the story of cricket, there are great players. There are champions. Then, there are those rare individuals who redefine the very meaning of greatness. Sir Garfield Sobers was the greatest cricketer the world has ever seen.
“He emerged from the Caribbean at a time when our region was finding its voice and asserting its place on the world stage. Through his excellence, he gave millions across our islands and in the diaspora, a renewed belief in what was possible. He showed that greatness was not confined by the size of our nations, the geography of our islands or the circumstances of our beginnings.
“Sir Garfield Sobers became more than a sporting icon. He became a symbol of Caribbean excellence, resilience and possibility. His achievements brought pride to Barbados, inspiration to the West Indies and admiration from every corner of the cricketing world.”
In his later years Sobers was often seen watching West Indies’ matches at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, sitting on a wicker chair at the top of the Worrell, Weekes and Walcott Stand next to the pavilion that bears his name. He is also immortalised in a statue at the same end of the ground, playing a straight drive with a flourish to denote his swashbuckling approach with the bat.
David Rudder, the legendary calypsonian from Trinidad who wrote the anthem Rally ’Round the West Indies, told the Guardian: “The great man has left the round table with blade, flannels and ball.
“Perhaps he has seen enough of a difference in these young men who now hold the flame. So, on this fine day, with collar up, arrogant stride, the man we call THE GOAT, has joined the ancestors. Farewell.”
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop Emeritus of Bombay, as his Special Envoy to the 12th Plenary Assembly of the FABC, to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from July 20–26, 2026.
In a letter addressed to Cardinal Gracias, the pope expressed his hope for the continued growth of the Church in Asia, emphasizing the region’s role in witnessing to the Christian faith and promoting human dignity.
Reflecting on the mission of the Church in Asia, Pope Leo XIV encouraged bishops and faithful to remain engaged with the realities of the contemporary world.
“Do not be afraid to get your hands dirty in the work of our time,” the pope said, urging the Church to respond with prayer, wisdom, and perseverance to the challenges facing humanity.
The pope highlighted the importance of placing God at the center of the Church’s actions and ensuring that the human person remains at the heart of its decisions. He said that those often pushed to the margins — including the poor, the sick, migrants, and children — must be recognized as central to building a more just and compassionate society.
Drawing from Psalm 85:11, Pope Leo XIV called for a world where “charity and truth meet” and where “justice and peace” are united.
The pope also encouraged the Church to become a builder of communion rather than an institution shaped by division or self-interest.
“We must become builders of communion and not architects of the Babylon of this age; servants of the coming Kingdom, not builders of towers destined for ruin,” he said.
Cardinal Gracias, who served as Archbishop of Bombay, India, from 2006 to 2025, is widely recognized for his contributions to the Church in Asia and his involvement in regional and global Church leadership. He previously served as president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India and as a member of the Vatican’s key advisory bodies.
As the pope’s representative, Cardinal Gracias will preside over liturgical celebrations and convey Pope Leo XIV’s greetings and closeness to bishops, priests, religious, and lay faithful participating in the FABC gathering.
The 12th FABC Plenary Assembly will bring together bishops from across Asia under the theme “The Call to Synodal Conversion and the Mission to be Bridges and Bridge-builders in Asia,” focusing on the Church’s call to strengthen communion, dialogue, and missionary engagement across the continent.
મારું જીવન…મારાં સ્વજન…મારો સમાજ…મારું જગત…૨૦૦૪ થી આ જાળું ગૂંથી રહ્યો છું…
