The Diocese of Roseau will once more celebrate World Marriage Day this Sunday 9 February. This year couples will flock to the St Andrews Parish at 10 am for a grand Eucharistic Thanksgiving and Celebration of their matrimonial sacrament. World Marriage Day honors husbands and wives, the beauty of their faithfulness, their devotion and sacrifice, and their commitment and joy in marriage.
Approximately 150 couples from across the Diocese are expected to clad in shades of orange and gather at the Vielle Case Roman Catholic Church for this annual event. This year the Catholic couples will welcome and celebrate with the new bishop of Roseau – His Lordship Kendrick Forbes, . Alongside him to concelebrate Holy Mass will be Fr Herman Sharplis, parish priest of St Andrews – as the parish partners with the Marriage and Engaged Encounter Ministries to host World Marriage Day on a diocesan level for
the first time. The Marriage and Engaged encounter ministries fall under the umbrella of the Diocese of Roseau Family Life Commission.
The theme for WMD has been permanently adopted by the Worldwide Marriage Encounter as “Love One Another.” This phrase is the commandment given by Jesus in John 15:12. It speaks to all, but married couples accept it as their simple but challenging way of how God wishes them to live out their covenant. Loving one another is a daily decision, simple but challenging. In powerful magical moment during the church celebration couples will renew their wedding vows as they promise again, to Love One
Another, till death do they part!
Among couples expected to attend the celebrations is the President of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Her Excellency Sylvanie Burton and Mr Burton. The catholic couple attended World Marriage Day at the St Gerards Cathedral Chapel in 2024.
As is customary several couples will be recognized during the WMD celebration: couples from across the diocese celebrating 25 and 50 years Jubilee anniversaries from Feb 14, 2024 to Feb 14 2025, the longest married couple in the St Andrews Parish, one exemplary couple in the St Andrew parish, and couples who have served in the Marriage and Engaged Encounter Ministries for 10 years and more.
One priest and one religious with jubilees anniversaries of consecrated life will also be recognized for the first time. While two business houses which have been supportive of the activities of Marriage and Engaged Encounter over the years, will receive special awards.
As the Jubilee year takes off the Marriage and Engaged Encounter Ministries encourage all able couples to turn out for the extraordinary graces and faith needed to navigate the increasingly difficult challenges that are closing in on marriage and family life. Only with faith can we be Pilgrims of Hope, and Hope does NOT disappoint!
