Tomorrow at noon Gilroy’s St. Mary Roman Catholic Parish (11
First Street) will celebrate its second annual Community Wedding
(
”Bodas Comuntarias”). This is an event which honors the ideal of
Christian marriage by making it available as a gift to many couples
at the same time.
Tomorrow at noon Gilroy’s St. Mary Roman Catholic Parish (11 First Street) will celebrate its second annual Community Wedding (”Bodas Comuntarias”). This is an event which honors the ideal of Christian marriage by making it available as a gift to many couples at the same time.
There are many married Catholics who, for a number of different reasons, have not been married officially in their church. Although they may have lived together for many years (and even have children) in a common-law or civil marriage, their union is lacking the sacramental blessing of the Catholic Church. Matrimony is one of the traditional seven sacraments of Catholicism, “an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace… ordained by Christ…as a means to receive the same and a pledge to assure thereof.”
According to the Reverend Francisco Miramontes, parochial vicar at St. Mary, the couple itself is the minister of wedding ceremony; the priest attends in the capacity of an official witness on behalf of the Church.
At the beginning of this year St. Mary started advertising that this special opportunity for a church wedding would be made available, and 20 couples expressed interest; for various reasons only seven will be able to participate tomorrow. All have been attending regular sessions to prepare for receiving this sacrament, learning about the Church’s marital teachings, family values, communication skills, and ways of resolving family problems.
Besides the efforts of parish clergy, many long-time married couples at St. Mary have also been involved in helping with this process, acting as mentors. One of the goals of this program is that the newly married couples and their families will come to participate more fully in the life of Gilroy’s Catholic Community, drawing upon its resources for help in time of trouble or sorrow.
Tomorrow (June 12) will not be a “group wedding,” but will be very personal for all participants. Each couple will exchange vows separately with all four parish priests presiding: Fathers Dan Derry, Peter Siemas, Francisco Miramontes, and John Coleman. Then the parish will host a celebration party next door at St. Mary’s School. Each couple will slice its wedding cake, and a DJ and keyboard player will provide musical entertainment for dancing. Refreshments will also be provided.
Among the parish groups helping to host this event is Engaged Encounter, an international organization with more than 30 couples participating at St. Mary. These are people preparing for their own weddings while learning about Catholic marriage and developing skills in communication, spirituality, and relationships.
There was no charge to participate in the Community Wedding program; it is a free gift of the parish to Catholic families who want their existing marriages solemnized by the Church while deepening their relationships with each other and God. Details: 847-5151.
Chuck Flagg teaches English at Mt. Madonna High School in Gilroy. He lives in Morgan Hill with his wife and two sons. For correspondence, write him at The Times, 30 E. Third St., Morgan Hill, 95037.
