Skip to main content

Marriage

At the heart of every family is the committed love of a married couple.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus’ first sign or miracle was worked at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. He is alerted to the couple’s embarrassment by Mary his Mother but his response is very disappointing. “What has that to do with you or I? My hour has not yet come!”

Marriage is the call to overcome our immaturity and self-centredness and to dedicate ourselves in love to the service of another person, to put them first, before our own interests or plans. In this way we imitate the selfless generosity of God himself.

In the Gospel Story, at Mary’s bidding Jesus asks the waiter to fill the six stone water jars, used for ceremonial washings, each holding 20-30 gallons with water up to the brim. They did so and he then asked them to take it to the Steward of the Feast and when he tasted it, he was surprised. People, he said, normally serve the best wine first and the cheaper sort when the guests have had plenty to drink, you have kept the best wine till now.

In marriage we are invited to experience the best wine that life has to offer when we follow the unselfish way of love.

The couple who are married in Catholic tradition are themselves the ministers of the sacrament of Matrimony, the priest witnesses and blesses the marriage on behalf of the Church. To encourage the couple, the Church invites them to a systematic preparation for the great day run by lay people and the priest will help them prepare the service.

Please contact the parish in good time to ensure all the documents needed can be prepared.

Fr John Dickson SDB