Weeklong observance in U.S. celebrates ‘beauty and gift of marriage’

763 0
Couples exchange vows during a wedding service at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Georgetown, Del., Feb. 14, 2010. National Marriage Week is Feb. 7-14, 2019, in the U.S. Catholic Church. World Marriage Day is celebrated Feb. 10 this year. (CNS photo/Don Blake, The Dialog)

WASHINGTON (CNS) — National Marriage Week USA and World Marriage Day are opportunities for “building a culture of life and love that begins with promoting and defending marriage and the family,” said Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia.

The archbishop, who is chairman of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, made the comments in a letter to his brother bishops about the weeklong observance Feb. 7-14 and the international day, observed Feb. 10 this year.

The USCCB offers resources in English and Spanish about marriage, the promotion and defense of marriage as a lifelong union of one man and one woman through its websites ForYourMarriage.org, PorTuMatrimonio.org and MarriageUniqueForAReason.org.

Additional resources specifically for the celebration of National Marriage Week, including a preaching resource, poster, and prayer intentions, can be found on the USCCB website at https://bit.ly/294bMTI.

A daily virtual marriage retreat for couples is currently available on the ForYourMarriage.org website and via the For Your Marriage social media channels on Facebook and Twitter. The retreat, which began Feb. 7, focuses on the theme “Marriage: Made for a Reason.”

A conversation about marriage will be livestreamed on the USCCB Facebook page Feb. 13.

National Marriage Week USA, launched in 2010, is part of an international event seeking to mobilize individuals, organizations, and businesses in a common purpose to strengthen marriage in communities and influence the culture.

World Marriage Day was started in 1983 by Worldwide Marriage Encounter.

Archbishop Chaput said in his letter he hoped these observances to celebrate marriage would “foster an ever-deeper appreciation for the gift of marriage and the blessings of family life.”

“May the Lord reward you for proclaiming, defending and witnessing to the beauty and gift of marriage and the family,” he told the bishops.

Related Post

South Sudan Vice President Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior reacts as Pope Francis kneels to kiss her feet April 11, 2019, at the conclusion of a two-day retreat at the Vatican for the African nation's political leaders. The pope begged the leaders to give peace a chance. (CNS photo/Vatican Media via Reuters)

South Sudan’s Christian leaders say papal kiss is message of Easter

Posted by - April 28, 2019 0
NAIROBI, Kenya (CNS) — Pope Francis’ surprise kiss on the feet of South Sudanese political leaders is the message of…
Msgr. Walter Rossi, rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, is pictured in a Dec. 1 photo. Msgr. Rossi said it was inspiring to see the work on the new Trinity Dome Mosaic progress, just as it is inspiring to witness the faith of the people who come to pray at the national shrine every day. The dome was dedicated Dec. 8. (CNS photo/Jaclyn Lippelmann, Catholic Standard)

Shrine rector sees Trinity Dome Mosaic as work of art, work of faith

Posted by - December 17, 2017 0
WASHINGTON (CNS) — In the years since its 1959 dedication, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception…
Optina Monastery, one of Russia's holiest sites and a place of pilgrimage for Orthodox Christians, is pictured in May 27, 2017. Some observers have cautioned that Catholic-Orthodox relations could be set back by inter-Orthodox feuding. (CNS photo/Robert Duncan)

Russian Catholics hope ties won’t be affected by inter-Orthodox tensions

Posted by - October 7, 2018 0
WARSAW, Poland (CNS) — As plans to establish an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church encounter complaints from Russia, Catholic leaders hope…