Second Sunday of February celebrates Sacrament of Marriage
By Tom and Jeanie Van Vranken
World Marriage Day is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday in February and, in 2010, falls on Valentine’s Day, February 14th. This Day is sponsored by Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME) and has been celebrated for each of the past 28 years. It is a belief of the WWME Organization that faith-filled marriages will build strong families and that children of strong families will be better prepared to answer the call of God to live the vocations of Matrimony or Holy Orders.
The World Marriage Day symbol (above) depicts the role and values of any married couple. A husband and wife are symbolically seen as two candle-like figures reminding us that marital love helps to enlighten the world. The couple is joined by a heart, focusing on love as the power that fosters unity within the
couple and generates the capacity to be life-giving, inspiring others to fruitfulness and unity
The theme for World Marriage Day has been permanently adopted as “Love one Another.” This phrase is the commandment given us by Jesus in John 13:34. It speaks to us in a simple and challenging way of how God desires us to live. Loving one another is a daily choice – simple and challenging.
Worldwide Marriage Encounter seeks to accomplish this goal through its mission of renewal in the Church and continued conversion in the world. This mission is oriented to assist couples and priests to live fully their intimate and responsible relationships. The Catholic WWME accomplishes this by providing couples and priests with a spiritual experience as well as ongoing community support as they continue to live their vocation.
Worldwide Marriage Encounter has been encouraged by Bishop Pfeifer to grow within the Diocese of San Angelo. With Bishop Pfeifer’s direction for growth of Marriage Encounter opportunities, a West Texas Area was designated recently by the WWME Organization. This area encompasses the entire Diocese of San Angelo. In addition to this designation, a vibrant group of “Encountered Couples” has formed in Midland and, most recently, in San Angelo…with plans to develop more couple groups (circles) in many cities and towns throughout the Diocese. With their enthusiastic support, these couples have promoted Marriage Encounter Weekends in a variety of parishes. Currently, three Marriage Encounter Weekends are offered within our Diocese during the course of a year. The focus of a Weekend retreat is to assist married couple in strengthening their ability to communicate as well as to improve their ability to forgive each other for hurts and shortcomings. For the priest, Marriage Encounter offers this emphasis on communication and helps foster strong relationships with his parish community. For this reason, it is not uncommon for priests to attend a Weekend along with married couples. We believe priests deserve this weekend “getaway” and Marriage Encounter can help with acquiring a substitute priest while attending a weekend.
In another example of Bishop Pfeifer’s continued desire to strengthen marriages, an afternoon Marriage Enrichment will be offered in San Angelo at Christ the King Retreat Center on May 15, 2010 and will include Mass and dinner. Pastors and volunteers desiring to offer this and other forms of support for married couples are invited to contact Tom and Jeanie Van Vranken, Area Leaders for the West Texas Area of Worldwide Marriage Encounter. They can be contacted as follows: 432-683-8879 or email vanvranken@hughes.net
In the months ahead, Marriage Encounter Weekends will be held within our Diocese on February 26-28, 2010 at Circle Six Ranch in Stanton and on June 4-6, 2010 at Christ the King Retreat Center in San Angelo. To register call 432-697-9904 or register online at www.mewesttexas.org.
