By Maria Paz Duarte |Correspondent

More than 100 married couples and their children gathered for a retreat Aug. 10 in St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Yardville, where they celebrated as families in Christ. Children and adults enjoyed this gathering, which featured activities for all. Music was provided by the choir, “Sagrada Familia” (Sacred Family), from Divine Mercy Parish, Trenton.

The retreat, sponsored by the diocesan Department of Youth, Marriage and Family Life, was led by Father Jose Trejos from the Archdiocese of New York. Father Trejos spoke on the Catholic family, emphasizing that marriage has to be based on life in Christ. Father Trejos also mentioned how crucial it was for the Church to catechize couples who are not yet married and stress the importance of entering into a sacramental marriage.

“Marriage is a call in which emerge in this sacrament the divine life of God in two people that become one,” Father Trejos said. “The sacraments have to be for Catholics a lifestyle, not an option; this is God’s call for all.”

Father Trejos related how the concept of the family is what needs to be understood.

“A family that prays together, stays together,” he said. “If a husband and wife know exactly how to find God, it will not matter (if there are) any issues or problems, because they always stay united.”

“Where God is, there is nothing else that a person needs,” Father Trejos continued.

Josefa and Justo Figueroa of Divine Mercy Parish, Trenton, gave a testimonial about what it means to live a marriage with God. The Figueroas, who have been married more than 47 years, pointed out the importance of love and God in a relationship. If a couple is united and love each other as much as they love God, they said, and no matter the conflicts that occur along the way, they will always find a solution. Couples have to learn to talk, forget, forgive, pray, walk together and ask for help when it is needed. That is the formula to live in Christ, the Figueroas shared.

Father Rene Pulgarin, pastor of Christ the Redeemer Parish, Mount Holly, celebrated Mass and offered a blessing to all the married couples in attendance. In his homily, Father Pulgarin talked about how love is what keeps families closer to Jesus, because he is the only one who can help couples remain together. Jesus is the light who strengthens families living in Christ.

Father Pulgarin asked the couples to be the voice that rises in today’s culture, to announce that happiness only can be found in the sacramental marriage and it always will be a force for salvation. At the end of the Mass, the couples renewed their vows – promising love, loyalty and a life with God.

Father Pulgarin emphasized the need for the Church to provide events, such as the retreat and the picnic that followed, for the Latino community. The retreat helps to reinforce couples’ faith in their marriage and their home, he said. “We give the opportunity to bring couples married by the Church, to be an example to follow… and to inspire them to follow God’s path,” he added.

The retreat also included faith activities for youngsters, with a morning Stations of the Cross program for kids under 12, and catechism led by Father Pulgarin for teens. Juan Velazquez and his wife, Clara Vargas, of St. Joseph Parish, Toms River, said they enjoyed attending the retreat for the first time with their two children. “We learned to renew our faith as a couple. The retreat helped us to be better, to love more and to be a family in Christ,” Velazquez said. “Our salvation starts today – we need to be together as a family to better help our children to grow in Christ and be a role model for them.” 

Click here to see a photo gallery on this event.