Archdiocese Celebrates World Marriage Day World Marriage Day, February 13, 2000, will once again be celebrated throughout the Archdiocese of Newark. This year's theme for the annual observance honoring husband and wife as the head of the family will be "Love One Another." Archdiocesan coordinators Pat and Jim DeTura, parishioners of St. John the Evangelist in Bergenfield, have "encouraged each parish to acknowledge the vocation of marriage in a unique way on this special day." Their own church has planned for the day:
"We always feel inspired when we hear that Jesus' first miracle was performed at Cana. We see this as a sign of God's love for us all as married couples, and a call for us to 'Love One Another,'" said Pat Connolly-DeTura. Historically, the idea of celebrating marriages started in 1981 in Baton Rouge, La. Couples throughout the diocese encouraged the Mayor, Governor and the Bishop to honor marriages by naming St. Valentine's Day "We Believe in Marriage Day." The following year, 43 governors and US military bases in foreign lands had also proclaimed the day a celebration of marriage. The name was changed, and since 1983, the second Sunday of February had been proclaimed World Marriage Day. By 1993, Pope John Paul II had recognized World Marriage Day, and imparted upon it his Apostolic Blessings.
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