National Marriage Week USA and World Marriage Day are opportunities “to celebrate the gift and blessing of marriage,” said the chairman of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).“Marriage, both as a natural institution and as a Christian sacrament, is an irreplaceable good for society and all people,” wrote Bishop Richard J. Malone of Buffalo, New York, in a letter to his brother bishops. “Our Committee remains ever grateful for the ongoing efforts in dioceses and parishes to promote, strengthen and defend marriage, and to accompany married couples in their joys and trials.”
Bishop Boyea will celebrate a special Anniversary Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas in East Lansing on February 13th at 4:30pm for those couples celebrating their first anniversary in 2016 as well as for all couples celebrating a significant anniversary (10th, 15th, 20th, 25th etc.). All couples celebrating any anniversary of 60 years or more is invited. There will be a reception to follow the Mass. Any couples who plan to attend the Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing, are asked to RSVP by contacting Richard Budd at (517) 342-2471 or by email: rbudd@dioceseoflansing.org
A daily virtual marriage retreat for National Marriage Week is available through Facebook: www.facebook.com/foryourmarriage. The theme of this year’s retreat is marriage and mercy, given the year-long Jubilee of Mercy. There will also be a National Marriage Week contest available through multiple USCCB social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The celebration of National Marriage Week in the U.S. began in 2002, originating from Marriage Week International. World Marriage Day, held the second Sunday of February each year, was started in 1983 by Worldwide Marriage Encounter.