World Marriage Day celebration honors sacramental marriage as light to the world
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
In honor of World Marriage Day, celebrated each year on the second Sunday in February, the diocesan Department of Youth, Marriage and Family Life will host the eighth annual World Marriage Day Dinner Dance Feb. 9 in St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold, beginning with 4:30 p.m. Mass celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C. M. Mass will be followed by dinner and dancing.
The idea of celebrating marriage began in Baton Rouge, La., in 1981, when couples encouraged the mayor, the governor and the bishop to proclaim St. Valentine’s Day as “We Believe in Marriage Day.” The event was so successful, the idea was presented to and adopted by Worldwide Marriage Encounter’s national leadership.
By 1982, 43 governors officially proclaimed the day and celebrations spread to U.S. military bases in several foreign countries. In 1983, the name was changed to “World Marriage Day,” designated to be celebrated each year on the second Sunday in February, which this year is Feb. 10.
In 1993 Pope John Paul II imparted his Apostolic Blessings on World Marriage Day, which honors husband and wife as the foundation of the family, the basic unit of society.
The WMD symbol is one of husband and wife as two candle-like figures, symbolic of married love as enlightening the world. With the couple joined by heart, the image focuses on love as the power that fosters unity and generates the capacity to be life-giving.
The permanent theme for WMD, “Love One Another,” is taken from Jesus’ commandment in John 15:12, “Love one another as I have loved you.”
St. Robert Bellarmine Parish is located at 61 Georgia Road, Freehold. Tickets for the dinner dance are $50 per couple. For more information, contact Beatriz Cancel at 609.403.7151.
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In honor of World Marriage Day, celebrated each year on the second Sunday in February, the diocesan Department of Youth, Marriage and Family Life will host the eighth annual World Marriage Day Dinner Dance Feb. 9 in St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold, beginning with 4:30 p.m. Mass celebrated by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C. M. Mass will be followed by dinner and dancing.
The idea of celebrating marriage began in Baton Rouge, La., in 1981, when couples encouraged the mayor, the governor and the bishop to proclaim St. Valentine’s Day as “We Believe in Marriage Day.” The event was so successful, the idea was presented to and adopted by Worldwide Marriage Encounter’s national leadership.
By 1982, 43 governors officially proclaimed the day and celebrations spread to U.S. military bases in several foreign countries. In 1983, the name was changed to “World Marriage Day,” designated to be celebrated each year on the second Sunday in February, which this year is Feb. 10.
In 1993 Pope John Paul II imparted his Apostolic Blessings on World Marriage Day, which honors husband and wife as the foundation of the family, the basic unit of society.
The WMD symbol is one of husband and wife as two candle-like figures, symbolic of married love as enlightening the world. With the couple joined by heart, the image focuses on love as the power that fosters unity and generates the capacity to be life-giving.
The permanent theme for WMD, “Love One Another,” is taken from Jesus’ commandment in John 15:12, “Love one another as I have loved you.”
St. Robert Bellarmine Parish is located at 61 Georgia Road, Freehold. Tickets for the dinner dance are $50 per couple. For more information, contact Beatriz Cancel at 609.403.7151.
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