Felipe and Eliza were the oldest couple among the group, yet they were also the cutest that elicits smile and admiration from those present.
They were one of the 6 couples who received the Holy Sacrament of Matrimony last Saturday at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral, during the Annual Group Wedding sponsored by the Commission on Marriage and Family Life.
Felipe and Eliza found each other after his first wife died 3 years ago. Shortly after, they got married civilly but being Catholics all their lives, they longed to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony. Finally, God granted their desire and now they, along with the other 5 newlywed couples are entering the New Year 2020 walking in the grace of God.
Last Saturday’s Group Wedding was the 3rd year in a row that Bishop Ryan officiated as part of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan. In the first year, there were 13 couples who participated. Last year, despite the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yutu, there were 5 couples and this year, there were 6 couples.
All the couples have lived together or a long time and have had children and even grandchildren, but they were still very emotional as they pronounced their marriage vows to each other. “Look at each other in the eyes”, Bishop Ryan reminded each couple as they give their vows.
All of them desires since the beginning of their relationship to get married in the Church but for variety of reasons, it never happened. “What made you decide to get married in the Church now?”, Fr. Jason asked the couples during the marriage classes last November. Interestingly most of them said, it was their ‘hunger’ for the Holy Eucharist that encouraged them to approach the Sacrament of Matrimony. “When people lined up in the Church to receive the Holy Communion, I always felt this strong desire to approach as well, but I know that I could not until me and my spouse gets married sacramentally”, says one of the brides.
For others, they decided to get married in the Church because they wanted to give a good example to their children who are becoming of age.
This Annual Group Wedding has created a new awareness on the importance of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony in the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa. Ever since, Bishop Ryan started this practice, there has been a surged of couples asking for the sacrament, which is a very encouraging trend and that the commission hopes and prays to continue in the coming years. The marriage of the husband and wife is the foundation of every family. Therefore, if we want to revitalize our Christian families and in consequence our youths, then we need to begin from this foundation – the Christian Marriage!
For more photos, check here.
