Hundreds of Couples Renew Their Vows at World Marriage Day Mass

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Hundreds of couples renewed their matrimonial vows during the annual Spanish Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral marking World Marriage Day.

The afternoon liturgy Feb. 9 was celebrated by Father Felix Reyes, C.R.L., the pastor of St. Jude parish in the Inwood section of Manhattan.

“We are here to celebrate the gift of marriage, the sacrament of matrimony…,” said Father Reyes in his homily. “From the beginning, marriage has been a gift from God, the union of man and woman, as in Genesis. You are co-creators for the Creator, through the sacrament of matrimonial love.”

He noted that married couples should seek to maintain strong faith in their union.

“You are the salt of earth. You are the light of the world,” said Father Reyes, alluding to the day’s Gospel reading from Matthew. “And we all know what salt is used for, to give flavor and to preserve. Your presence here today is a sign of giving light to faith amid social darkness. Your presence says: we believe in love, we believe in matrimony.”

The pastor alluded to Ephesians 5, about wives respecting and submitting to their husbands. “All you husbands like that, right?” Father Reyes added, drawing laughter.

He noted that the Scripture passage is about the significance of husbands loving their wives as Jesus loves the Church, recalling that Jesus gave up his life for the Church. “A man has the responsibility to love his wife as Christ loves the Church,” said Father Reyes, noting the importance of the virtues of patience and forgiveness—and the gifts of faith, hope and love.

The Mass was sponsored by El Movimiento Matrimonial Católico (MMC), in collaboration with the archdiocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry. The lead coordinators are Maximo and Marcia Correa.

Near the end of Mass, Maximo expressed gratitude to Father Reyes, the concelebrants and all the couples and others at the liturgy. “We thank you all for your support of El Movimiento Matrimonial Católico,” he said.

The concelebrants included Msgr. Robert Ritchie, rector of the cathedral.

About 1,500 people attended the Mass, including children and other loved ones that were present to show their support. Most of the more than 600 couples are married in the Church, including some that have renewed their vows in previous years.

Father Reyes led a prayer for couples married civilly. A number of those couples are preparing to be married in the Church.

The annual Mass began in 2007 at St. Angela Merici Church in the Bronx; it’s been offered at the cathedral since 2017. The MMC group was established in 2000 at St. Angela Merici, the site of marriage retreats and support meetings.

Attending were Yerlin and Valery Liriano, parishioners of St. Angela Merici. They’ve been married civilly for 12 years, and they plan to marry in the Church in December thanks to preparation through the couples’ group run by the Correas. They have a 10-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter.

“This movement has helped us a great deal,” said Mrs. Liriano, 30. “It has helped us to grow spiritually as a couple, as a family—keeping us united as a family.”

Her husband, 32, added, “We feel very good and grateful. We are thankful to the Lord, and we are thankful for this Catholic Marriage Movement.”