HONG KONG (SE): “No matter how many years a couple have been married, the most important thing is to be patient, understanding, and give mutual support. Try to avoid arguments; peace in a family is important. Above all, pray often to God for more blessings to the family,” shared Chan Wu Oi-kwan who has been married for 55 years who, with his wife, celebrated their wedding anniversary with 10 other couples at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, Caine Road, on January 1.
The Mass marked the fifth to 55th anniversaries of eleven couples this year. To solidify the relationship of couples in the family of parishioners, the Mass is normally celebrated on the Sunday after Christmas, which is often the feast of the Holy Family. This year the celebration fell on the feast of Mary, Holy Mother of God.
In his homily, Father Dominic Chan Chi-ming, cathedral parish priest, expressed his appreciation of couples who work hard to maintain a happy marriage. “They are faithful to what they pledged during the sacrament of marriage: to love and respect their spouse in whatever circumstance. It is the principle of Catholic marriage; the determination for man and woman to stay together for a lifetime,” Father Chan said.
He spoke about sharing session on 11 December 2022 in which the couples discussed their ups and downs in the years of marriage. Those who were married for five to 10 years normally shared the joy of taking care of children, while those married up to 20 years tended to share about worries because of illness or work.
No matter how many years a couple have been married, the most important thing is to be patient, understanding, and give mutual support. Try to avoid arguments; peace in a family is important. Above all, pray often to God for more blessings to the family
Chan Wu Oi-kwan
Recalling what couples married for over 50 years had shared, Father Chan said, “The answer to a happy marriage is one word: patience. It sounds negative but what lies behind is a deep love. Like what St. Paul said to the Corinthians: love is patient, love is kind…” he said.
As a couple’s relationship expresses in a unique way the unbreakable bond of love between Christ and his people, the parish priest said, “The birth of Jesus Christ has blessed each family member as a person in the process to growing and sanctify themselves in a marriage.”
At the end of the Mass, the couples read a prayer expressing their gratitude to God and received blessings from Father Chan as well as a blessing certificate issued by Bishop Stephen Chow Sau Yan, sj.
Irene Lo Ka-yan, leader of the cathedral’s Parish Marriage and Family Group, which organised the event, said that most of the couples who joined the celebration this year had joined a previous one in 2017.
She said the Mass and the sharing session beforehand can help to foster a better relationship in marriage. “The five-yearly anniversary celebration is meaningful for the couples in the sense that it can help them remember the relationship between the husband and wife in different stages,” she said.
They are faithful to what they pledged during the sacrament of marriage: to love and respect their spouse in whatever circumstance. It is the principle of Catholic marriage; the determination for man and woman to stay together for a lifetime
Father Chan
She was especially touched as senior couples shared how they faced their illnesses together, and overcame their trials with faith. “In fact, couples in whatever stage of marriage can all learn from the sharing of other couples,” she added.
Another Mass to honour the wedding anniversaries of around 20 couples was celebrated at Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish, Wan Chai, on January 2.
In his homily, Father Thomas Law Kwok-fai, parish priest, gave tips for the couples on how they can empower themselves, despite their human weaknesses, for life’s journey. “Human beings are weak… It depends on whether both sides are willing to support one another. And if we are Christians, we will know that only the love of God is most powerful. Marriage means to learn from Jesus.”
Quoting a couple who married recently on December 26 in the parish, the feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr in the Church, he said, “They chose the date because they say marriage is like martyrdom.”
Amid the laughter of the congregation, he continued, “That means, for the sake of love, we are willing to surrender our lives, in the same way as we love God. We love and accept each other as God accepts us. This is a spirit of giving and acceptance, a lifetime and unchangeable decision,” he said.
“Whenever you are both weak, remember the cross so that you can support your spouse,” he encouraged the couples.
