It’s officially summer and this means not only vacation, or camps for kids but also weddings!
Statistically, there are more weddings done during the summer, perhaps for obvious and practical reason – family and friends are able to attend and even travel for weddings.
In fact, this year, here in the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa, there had been weddings celebrated almost every weekend since the latter part of May. And this is good news because this means that many of our parishioners are receiving the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.
Unfortunately not everyone is able to celebrate summer weddings! This is why the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa is once again opening the registration for the Annual Group Wedding which is schedule on December 28, 2019.
There are still many couples in our parishes who are still yet to receive the grace of this Sacrament. There are still many couples out there who are either married civilly or simply living together without the benefit of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony for different reasons.
For many, the financial aspect of getting married is a big factor and this is even amplified by the cultural context of strong family ties. In a small island where one is practically ‘related to everyone’, it can be pretty embarrassing or even offensive to have a Church wedding and not being able to invite everyone. And if you do invite everyone, then it means large wedding party, not mentioning the dresses and the decorations and souvenirs which then leaves you with a big, hefty bill at the end of the day. For any young couple who just wanted to start a simple life together and start a family, a Church wedding therefore, in this context is just too much of a burden to handle. Born and raised in a Catholic environment, many would want to receive the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony but they are hindered by the financial aspect and cultural pressures.
Another reason why some couples do not receive the Holy Sacrament of Holy Matrimony today is because of previous marriages, either sacramental or civil. Many of our parishioners who were married previously and who are in a new relationship knows that they cannot just get married in the Church and therefore they end up either getting married civilly or just living together.
These are a couple of many reasons why the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa through the encouragement of Bishop Ryan are celebrating the Annual Group Wedding. For the past couple of years now, Bishop Ryan has officiated group weddings on the Feast of the Holy Family.
This initiative is also part of the Pastoral Plan of the diocese as a way of highlighting the beauty and importance of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony over all others secondary elements of a wedding. Pope Francis in his message to the engaged couples in Rome on February 14, 2014 said that: “It is good that your wedding be simple and make what is truly important stands out. Some are more concerned with the exterior details, with the banquet, the photographs, the clothes, the flowers…These are important for a celebration, but only if they point to the real reason for your joy: the Lord’s blessing on your love.”
This is also an effective way of reaching out to our families and bringing the Good News into their lives. All the couples who have been part of the Annual Group Wedding have been living together for years and have had children or even grandchildren. The marriage preparation courses that the diocese provide prior to the wedding is a big pastoral help, not only in preparation for the liturgical wedding but more importantly, to help them rediscover the love and presence of God in their relationship, with their children and even to rediscover their vocation and mission as a Christian family.
The Group Wedding for this year is set on December 28, 2019 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral and will be officiated by Bishop Ryan.
This invitation is open for any couple who wished to receive the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. If anyone is interested, please contact your respective parish priests. You can also contact the Office of the Commission on Marriage and Family Life at the Curia at 234-3000 Ext. 136 or 789-2428 or by email: frjasongranado@rcdck.org
Deadline for registration is October 31, 2019.
