Thirty-eight couples of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, Azire, Small Mankon have raised their union through the Sacrament Holy Matrimony during their parish feast day. The twin-event opened with a Eucharistic celebration on Sunday, October 5, 2014 in the Parish.

In his homily, the Parish Priest and main celebrant, Rev. Fr. Charles Ngoubi, briefly recounted the life of the parish patron saint. He noted that her greatest desire of being a missionary was only achieved long after her death as her relics toured and enhanced evangelisation in 400 countries and their parish was one of its beneficiaries.

Fr. Ngoubi said this was a lesson for others to learn and be missionaries wherever they are. He said the missionary theme is important because the day’s readings talked about the need for workers in God’s vine yard. The preacher thanked God for the 38 couples, some who had been cohabiting for close to 50 years, and who finally accepted God’s call to bless their unions in Church.

The parish priest added that if there was nothing to be happy about on that day, the congregation should at least rejoice over the fact that the 38 new couples will from that moment on be receiving the Eucharist which is the source and summit of the Mass. He noted that the parish was following Pope Francis’ example who last month blessed the marriage of 28 couples. He stressed that the family is the Church’s and the world’s foundation and informed the congregation of the Synod for the Family which open that same day in Rome and will end on October 19, 2014.

Fr. Ngoubi explained that Pope Francis has selected 24 couples who have joined other synod participants in the deliberations, thus showing the importance the Church gives to the family. He read a prayer which Pope Francis has also published which is being said in all churches during the ongoing synod. He noted that “If there are no good families, there cannot be good Gospel sharing groups, no good Small Christian Communities and, above all, there cannot be a good church.”

He added that some families suffer violence, hatred and division and this affects the society in which such families are found. He then urged all families present to be good examples for others to follow in their neighbourhood. He, however, said that this can only be possible if families implore the Holy Spirit to help them in their endeavours to live exemplary marriage lives.

The marriage rite followed the sermon as the main celebrant invited the 38 couples and their witnesses to the sanctuary, which, of course, was too small to conveniently hold everyone. To safe time, the officiating minister led all the men to speak to the women in unison and vice versa. All the grooms then gave rings to their brides at the same time and vice versa.

Addressing the congregation when Mass ended, the spokesperson for the newly wedded couples noted that one’s wedding is the only important event in his/her life that he/she is opportune to celebrate considering that only others celebrate his/her birth and death. He promised that they were going to live the marital vows they had just made to the full. The joyful and colourful event culminated in feasting in the parish hall before subsequent celebrations in the newly wedded couples’ homes.