Felix and her husband have been cultivating their relationship for 11 years and after reflecting on the role faith played in their lives, they decided to receive the sacrament of matrimony.
“I’m happy to see that others have decided to make this important decision and I hope more do the same, too,” Felix said.
Couples, along with their sponsors, entered the parish social hall where the ceremony was held. Some brides and grooms wore traditional wedding dresses and tuxedos, while some wore other formal wear. Overflow seating was provided for family and friends in the main church building, where a live feed from the Mass in the hall was displayed.
The parish reported having 90 couples ready to receive the sacrament, but could only accommodate 45 on Feb. 9. Another communal wedding ceremony is scheduled in May for the remaining 45 couples.
All couples underwent the normal period of preparation, formation and fulfilled all requirements before taking part in the wedding ceremony.
Margaret Medeiros, one of the coordinators for the communal weddings at the parish, saw the couples eager to have their union convalidated by the Church as a sign of the positive impact the parish is having on the community.
“The pope decided to make this year the Year of Faith. Well we have decided to make it the Year of Mission,” Medeiros said. “We are bringing people back to the Church, back to the sacraments. That’s our mission.”
The parish held two Masses during the day and a communal reception on parish grounds later in the afternoon for all the couples.
Sponsored, in part, by the lay Divine Word Missionaries, the parish covered all the expenses for the reception.