Brian Hyland  973-497-4187

For Release:  February 8, 1999

Local Churches to Celebrate Gift of Marriage

Couples in North Jersey and around the United States will celebrate their devotion to one another as they observe World Marriage Day on Sunday, February 14, 1999. 

"World Marriage Day provides an opportunity for all people to focus and reflect on the positive aspects of marriage," said Judy Miller, director of Family Life Ministries for the Archdiocese of Newark. 

Catholic parishes in Northern New Jersey will join in the festivities by holding the following special events (events are on February 14, unless otherwise specified): 

• Couples will renew their wedding vows and hear a special guest speaker during each of the Masses at St. Peter the Apostle Church in River Edge.
• The Church of the Holy Spirit and Our Lady Help of Christians Church in East Orange will offer a special blessing to married couples at all Masses.
• Special blessings will be offered to married couples in St. Theresa's Church in Creskill, St. John's in Bergenfield and St. Anthony's in Northvale. 
• In Oakland, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, married couples will renew their vows at all Masses.
• During the 11:30 a.m. Mass at St. Gabriel's Church in Saddle River, couples will renew their wedding vows and hear a guest speaker on the topic of Marriage Encounter.
• In Belleville, a special blessing will be offered to married couples during all Masses at St. Peter's Church. Also, the Spanish Community of St. Peter's will celebrate with a luncheon at 2:30 p.m.
• St. John Vianney Church in Colonia will have a family breakfast following the 9 a.m. Mass.
• In Bayonne, married couples at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish will receive a special blessing at all Masses.
• In Bloomfield, Sacred Heart Parish sent out invitations to all married couples for a special Mass and Celebration at the noon Mass on Sunday, February 21.

World Marriage day began in Baton Rouge, La, when couples asked the mayor, bishop and governor to proclaim St. Valentine's Day as "We Believe in Marriage Day." The idea was so successful that it was adopted by Worldwide Marriage Encounter's national leadership. In 1982, forty-three governors officially proclaimed the day and celebrations spread to US military bases throughout the world. 

In 1983, the name was changed to "World Marriage Day" and the second Sunday in February was chosen to celebrate the day. In 1993, his holiness, Pope John Paul II, imparted his Apostolic Blessing on World Marriage Day. 

Worldwide Marriage Encounter sponsors World Marriage Day and has permanently adopted "Love One Another" as its theme. According to Pam and Joe Noto, Archdiocesan coordinators for World Marriage Day, "'Love one another' is the commandment given by Jesus in John 14. It speaks to us in a simple but challenging way of how our Father wishes us to live. Loving one another is a daily decision, simple yet challenging."

Miller added that, although the theme certainly applies in a special way to married couples, it can also apply to the parish family. "We are all challenged by the Gospel to be a community of life and love," she said. 

For more information on Worldwide Marriage Encounter, call 1-800-823-LOVE. 

 

1999 News Releases