By Alphonsa Ohol and Angela Saby for BIS Mumbai

The Sacred Heart Parish, Yerwada, Pune, organised Singles Meet 3.0 on Sunday, August 23, 2026, bringing together around 175 singles for an evening of interaction, connection and fellowship. The programme was conducted in two sessions—the first for singles aged 35 and above and those in the Second Chapter, followed by a session for singles aged 22 to 35. The gathering provided participants with an opportunity to meet new people, engage in meaningful conversations and discover qualities they value in a potential life partner. As St. John Chrysostom said, “The love of husband and wife is the force that welds society together.”

Hosted by Mr Joel Jerome, the programme began with an ice-breaker activity in which participants were asked to list as many names of participants of the opposite gender as possible. This was followed by an energetic dance that helped everyone interact more freely.

The evening continued with a speed interaction round, where men and women formed two circles facing each other. Each pair was given three minutes to interact before moving to the next person. This activity enabled participants to meet several people and engage in brief conversations in a lively atmosphere.

Another activity focused on common interests. Participants wrote down their favourite music genre, movie genre and activity before moving to the respective interest booths. There, they met others who shared similar interests, making it easier to discover common ground and continue conversations.

Many parents of the singles also participated in the event. A separate hall was arranged where candidate profiles were projected, giving parents an overview of the participants. During the break, parents had an opportunity to interact with candidates they found suitable, adding another dimension to the gathering.

Spot prizes were distributed during the games and activities, adding to the excitement. The formal activities concluded on a joyful note as participants gathered on the dance floor and enjoyed dancing together.

Fr Michael Fernandes, Parish Priest, thanked the organising team for their efforts in bringing the singles together. He emphasised the importance of approaching marriage with prayer, wisdom and discernment. He encouraged participants to look beyond appearances and give importance to shared values, understanding, compatibility and mutual respect.

The programme concluded with a fellowship dinner, allowing participants and their families to continue interacting in a relaxed atmosphere. Singles Meet 3.0 thus provided a welcoming platform for singles to meet new people, discover shared interests and take meaningful steps towards building lasting relationships.