Here in Dominica, married couples have been urged to live out their marriages with joy and faith, but most importantly to prioritize their families above everything else.
As Dominica joined the global and regional community in commemorating World Marriage Day (WMD) 2023 on February 12, 2023, Msgr. William John-Lewis, Delegate of the Apostolic Administrator, issued this appeal.
He stated that the event, which started in 1983 and is now celebrated every second Sunday of February, is a byproduct of Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME), an apostolate dedicated to assisting couples in strengthening their existing marriages.
The day’s major message is that the husband and wife are the cornerstone of the family and that the family is the fundamental building block of society, John-Lewis explained.
Additionally, he noted that World Marriage Day “honors the beauty of the conjugal covenant and nuptial faithfulness, devotion, sacrifice, commitment, and joy.”
He continued by saying that at a time when the Sacrament of Marriage faces such enormous challenges, the church “rejoices” that a man and a woman can consecrate their lives to God and through their conjugal love exemplify for us the union between Christ and His Church.
“In a day when Christian marriage is looked at with suspicion and the ministry of family life is weakened by a world that is characterized by an attitude of indifference, we rejoice that Christian men and women can continue to respond to the call,” he asserted.
“We rejoice that at a time when society often puts their faith, hope, and love to the test, they continue to strive for perfection and encourage others to do the same,” the delegate added.
While urging all married couples to carry out their married lives with joy and faith and make family life the biggest priority of their lives, John-Lewis went on to make a clarion call to all parishes and “all people of good faith” to accompany the married couples every step of the way and encourage them to let their love for each other remind everyone of the love that Christ has for His Church.
“My dear couples, may you continue to witness God’s eternal plan. God, who “created them male and female.” Gen 1:27b). “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh.” (Gen 2:24),” he quoted.
The Catholic leader continued, “We give you our blessing and commend all married couples to the protection of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and our Mother, our Lady of Lourdes.”
One or more married couples who had demonstrated excellence and longevity were recognized in each parish on the day.
Rubert and Dorothy Casimir of the St. Alphonsus Parish are thought to be Dominica’s longest-married couple, having been together for 73 years.
Notably, Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME) Dominica welcomed the Dominica Association of Evangelical Churches, the Anglican, Methodist, and Seventh Day Adventist Churches for the first time to participate in the celebration and observation of WMD.
“Msgr. William John-Lewis”
William what makes you lord? “Msgr, which I supposed means monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore meaning “my lord.”
Whose god are you since in this case lord is written in lower case letters.
Don’t people like you know that only Jesus Christ is Lord, for he is indeed God, the God who created heaven and earth and all that is within them?
I don’t understand how your kind can hypocritically stand there trying to impress upon married people how to live when you are not married!
How can you who’s Dod given privilege as a man allow some sinful man to deprive you of having a wife, when the Bible plainly teaches that he who Finseth a wife found a good thing.
These titles bestowed by so called roman catholic popes are not found in the bible, except for the term priest and for one to be a priest they had to be born a Levi.
One should worry about their own lives and marriage before trying to control other people’s life!
Did Msgr. William John-Lewis tell you his Lord. What makes you an
authority on Marriage as it relates to religion, you are so silly and egocentric with your judgements.
Gary, you are not only silly, but you are also simply very ignorant of the word of God.
You are into Catholicism, and the garbage they teach rather than teaching the word of God from the Bible!
And so, I am going to throw this in your face. People like William refers to their “papa as pope. The word pope means papa or father. Nevertheless, in the book of Matthew it teaches “call no man father on earth, for one is your father which is in heaven!
Tell me in which chapter of even the Roman catholic bible you find the word pope!
Tell me where in the bible you find any of Jesus disciples, or any prophets of God had a title such as “monsignor” meaning my lord!
Gary, only Jesus Christ is Lord, if Wiliam has a religion title as Monsignor; boy the minuet you call him monsignor, you are actually calling him your lord!
Where it pertains to marriage, the rules’ governing marriage are all stated in the Bible, different from the crap they are talking!
Ask William where are his wife and…
Be content with what you believe or yourself understanding of something. Look, this has nothing to do with me being into Catholicism but rather your egocentric behavior judging people based on your nonsensical, understanding of the Bible. Yes remember, the Bible, you use as reference to support your judgement about people, says, Who are you to pass judgement on the servant of another? It is before his own master[a] that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. Romans 14:4.
As to your ego, here is what your Bible says, Galatians 6:3-4 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor, so long Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque with your, dogmatic mind.
So then, the guy in the middle, “Father Priste” he is not allowed to have his own family because of his bogus religion? Knows nothing about bringing up a family and the sacrifice, hard work and dedication it entails – but it’s him in the center to direct and show family guidance? This is a blind religion anyway.
This is beautiful, we love to see this.
In this day and age some people still believe in the mythical story of jesus, mary and joseph? If there’s one god and so many religions, why is it that people do not come together? Religion is a tool that divides people, just like politics and education. These three systems were put in place for a reason. It is a shame that some people who believe in the mythical story and “serve god” expose their bodies so much. Looks like a lot of women dress almost naked and are the ones who belong to some religion and go to church. It does not add up, my people and stop fooling yourselves.
@south city, your views are screwed up. You consider Jesus Christ a “myth.” So according to what I understand from your Sin is that there’s no God. So in that case, why should women dress differently? Is it to please you? I don’t understand your logic at all. And you even mentioned church. Which church are you referring to?
Do some research and read about the Historical Origin of Christianity by Dr. Walter Williams. The African Trinity Heru, Aset and Asar and the Greek (Horus, Isis and Osiris) were before Joseph, Mary and Jesus and are all myths. The people who gave the world christianity started it in Constantinople by Constantine. We are living in a world now, where information is at our finger tips. How could a people who enslaved us try to give us their saviour? We have believed this line, hook and sinker and can’t let it go. With all of what christianity has to offer, why is it that we, as people of African descent, are still hated by the same people who gave us their saviour? Why are we still in such dire need? Why can’t jesus cause us to be better? The more we call on jesus, the worse we become as a people. Open your eyes and get to doing some research. You can even listen to the Jamaican brother, Mutabaruka. He has done a lot of research on jesus and Christianity. Free your mind from…
How can a priest give married couples counsel when he has not experience that life? The priests are men with sexual needs and should be married.
UNAPOLOGETIC
While the message is positive in some aspects… it also highlights how many people will have to hide their feelings or celebrate their love in private. Marriage is the Union between two people. That’s it. Not a man and woman. Just two consenting adults. I hope Dominica comes out of the dark ages so people can love openly here. Shame and secrecy cause more hurt than acceptance and tolerance. Some of the greatest loves never documented in a marriage certificate were probably same sex. Everyone deserves love. One day, I hope to see two women, or two men being appreciated in the same light.
Two men or two women getting married go againt the order of nature since they cannot pro-create. Do you think the earth would be populated if this were the case? Even the animal kingdom gives us an example. Do you see two male elephants or giraffes together? Some People will defy the order of the universe to satisfy their selfish needs. That kind of lifestyle is very un-natural and I reject it to the max.
UNAPOLOGETIC
Read more. Science and adoption have eliminated that “worry”. Man X woman can get married and decide they won’t have children so that excuse is a logical fallacy. 30% of the animal kingdom displays natural same sex behavior. It seems you reject intelligence too which is also unnatural. The audacity to think you who can barely understand the simplicities nature shows (if it exists, it is natural despite your unwillingness to accept it) can determine the laws of nature?! 😂 what if this is a natural way for population control? You have more energy to hate than to question a set of standards enforced by ignorant people for far too long….
So you have your own dictionary. You want to change the meaning of the people’s word? Two people whether men or woman can have their union and give it their own name. Why use the word for man and woman marriage and change the meaning? This makes no sense. To me love is love I dont care who you want to marry but logic is logic. If marriage is between man and woman get another word or make one. Why stress yourself?
You are just blinded to the truth and do not want to accept the way nature designed things to be. It is UNNATURAL for two females or males to claim that they are couples. Nature is not designed that way. Can two men or two women bring forth children? Just because you may have adopted a lifestyle does not make it legitimate. How will the earth be populated with that kind of lifestyle?
UNAPOLOGETIC
To me love is love I dont care who you want to marry but logic is logic.(No Name).
The quote above is your concept, which is simple a concept which is not condone by God. If you read the book of Romans, you will find in Chapter 2:24,25,26 “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:
25. Who change the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever Amen.
26. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27. And likewise, also men, leaving the leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
I cannot insist that homosexuality is a bad thing, hated by God: and your concept of love is false!
@ marriage for everyone, Bring your Butt here!
Only if you bring a stack of literature and the confidence to expand your understanding of language.
😂😂😂 marriage is a verb that does not require a specific set of genders to exist.
You’re just repeating what you’ve heard for years without giving it any thought. That’s low intelligence. It’s always the biggest Bible thumper’s claiming to know what your god’s design is. The problem with that oppression is your custom image of god does not align with everyone’s and one could argue your claim to know what’s best is blasphemous. Sit and think
Some more. Love is all that matters. In your heart lies nothing but hate. Careful, the higher the horse the harder the fall.
Tell them not too pray to the Virgin Mary.