Garden Grove, Calif., (February 7, 2020) – The Most Rev. Timothy Freyer, Auxiliary Bishop of Orange, will preside over the first-ever celebration in the newly dedicated Christ Cathedral of a Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass on World Marriage Sunday, February 9, 2020 at 3:00 pm. This Mass celebrates the joy of Christian marriage for all, but married couples who are celebrating 20+ years of marriage in 2020 are especially invited to publicly renew their commitment at this event.

In the Catholic Church, marriage is one of the seven holy sacraments. Marriage unites a man and a woman as one body in Christ.

“The Wedding Feast of the Lamb” is the theme of this year’s event, drawn from the nuptial reading from the Book of Revelation which is also depicted in a bronze piece in the new cathedral narthex. This biblical image conveys the overabundance of joy in heaven at the union of the faithful with Christ that is seen on earth in the joy of a Christian husband and wife.  Christ the bridegroom is united to his bride, the entire people of God. Christian marriage is to show the world the strength and permanence of unity that God has with God’s people. 

World Marriage Day honors husband and wife as the foundation of the family, the basic unit of society. It salutes the beauty of their faithfulness, sacrifice, and joy in daily married life.

“The love of husband and wife is a symbol of God’s own love, modeled on God’s inner life and love as Trinity. More than anything, this love which Christ reveals to us is what couples need to have realized in their lives and for their marriage. This is not easy in day to day life. At the Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass, the Church highlights the long-time commitment of these couples who have persisted in marriage for many decades in the hopes that younger couples will be inspired and those who are struggling will be encouraged,” said Linda Ji, Director of Pastoral Care for Families in All Stages for the Diocese of Orange.

History of World Marriage Day:

The idea of celebrating marriage began in Baton Rouge, La., in 1981, when couples encouraged the mayor, the governor and the Bishop to proclaim St. Valentines Day as We Believe in Marriage Day.  The event was so successful that the idea was presented to and adopted by Worldwide Marriage Encounter’s national leadership. By 1982, 43 Governors officially proclaimed the day and celebrations spread to U.S. military bases in several foreign countries. In 1983, the name was changed to World Marriage Day, designated to be celebrated each year on the second Sunday in February. In 1993, his Holiness, Pope John Paul II, imparted his Apostolic Blessings on World Marriage Day. The celebrations continue to grow and spread to more countries and faith expressions every year.

About the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange

With 1.3 million Catholics, 57 parishes, 5 Catholic centers, and 41 schools, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange is one of the largest and most diverse faith communities in the United States. The Diocese empowers Catholics across Orange County to have an active life of faith that is integrated and woven into the fabric of their daily lives through the community and sacramental life of the Church. Under the leadership of Bishop Kevin Vann, the Diocese works to establish and support dynamic, vibrant parishes and schools welcoming all to live the Gospel with faith, joy, charity and unity. Christ Cathedral, the spiritual home of the Diocese, was dedicated in July 2019.

Learn more about the Diocese of Orange at https://rcbo.staging.wpengine.com.

If photographing or covering this event, please email tkincaid@rcbo.org or cmontes@rcbo.org for a media pass, which allows you to enter the grounds and Cathedral.

Pastoral Center: Communications Department

13280 Chapman Avenue, Garden Grove, CA 92840

office: 714-282-3075          fax: 714-282-3029