Diocese of Roseau to celebrate World Marriage Day with grand Eucharistic Thanksgiving

This Sunday, February 9, the Diocese of Roseau will once again honor World Marriage Day with a special celebration at St. Andrews Parish. The event will commence at 10 AM with a grand Eucharistic Thanksgiving and a celebration of the matrimonial sacrament, bringing together couples from across the diocese to commemorate their love and commitment.

World Marriage Day is a global observance that pays tribute to the beauty of faithfulness, devotion, sacrifice, and joy in marriage. This year, approximately 150 couples are expected to attend the celebration, dressed in shades of orange, at the Vielle Case Roman Catholic Church.

Notably, the couples will be joined by the new bishop of Roseau, His Lordship Kendrick Forbes, who will concelebrate the Holy Mass alongside Fr. Herman Sharplis, the parish priest of St. Andrews. This year marks the first time the Marriage and Engaged Encounter Ministries have partnered with the parish to host World Marriage Day at a diocesan level. These ministries operate under the Diocese of Roseau Family Life Commission.

The theme of this year’s celebration, permanently adopted by the Worldwide Marriage Encounter, is “Love One Another.” This phrase, inspired by the commandment given by Jesus in John 15:12, serves as a guiding principle for married couples, encouraging them to live out their covenant with love. During the church celebration, couples will have a powerful moment to renew their wedding vows, reaffirming their commitment to love one another until death do they part.

Among the attendees will be Her Excellency Sylvanie Burton, President of the Commonwealth of Dominica, and Mr. Burton, who previously participated in World Marriage Day at St. Gerard’s Cathedral Chapel in 2024.

As part of the celebration, several couples will be recognized for their remarkable milestones, including those celebrating 25 and 50-year Jubilee anniversaries from February 14, 2024, to February 14, 2025. The longest-married couple in the St. Andrews Parish and one exemplary couple will also be honored, along with couples who have served in the Marriage and Engaged Encounter Ministries for over ten years.

In a first for this event, one priest and one religious with Jubilee anniversaries of consecrated life will also be recognized. Additionally, two business houses that have consistently supported the activities of the Marriage and Engaged Encounter Ministries will receive special awards.

As the Jubilee year unfolds, the Marriage and Engaged Encounter Ministries encourage all couples to participate in this celebration, emphasizing the extraordinary graces and faith necessary to navigate the challenges facing marriage and family life today. “Only with faith can we be Pilgrims of Hope, and Hope does NOT disappoint!” they affirm.