Weddings in the Diocese of San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic
On November 25, in the cathedral in San Juan de la Maguana, 18 couples from La Sagrada Familia Parish said, “I do”, in a great ceremony in which 174 couples were married. It was an important wedding ceremony for the whole diocese, in a cathedral packed with couples, witnesses, songs and much joy. And it wasn’t a gathering of young people: the average age of the engaged couples was well over 40.
In the Dominican Republic, marriage, even civil marriage, is not common. The fear of commitment, respect for the indissolubility of the sacrament, as well as many additional social, economic and psychological factors contribute to make matrimony quite infrequent.
In one of the talks that we gave to these 18 couples, someone told them that they all were brave. In the Dominican Republic a civil wedding is rare, and a wedding performed in the Church is almost counter-cultural.
In the Dominican Republic, marriage, even civil marriage, is not common. The fear of commitment, respect for the indissolubility of the sacrament, as well as many additional social, economic and psychological factors contribute to make matrimony quite infrequent.
In one of the talks that we gave to these 18 couples, someone told them that they all were brave. In the Dominican Republic a civil wedding is rare, and a wedding performed in the Church is almost counter-cultural.
We applaud the decision of the diocese of San Juan, to celebrate these collective weddings, that affirm the love of the couples, fortify the families already created, and fill the relatives and brides and grooms with pride. After the celebration, the 18 new couples walked through their communities smiling, happy and cognizant of the fact that although they had already lived together for many years, they now were initiating a new stage of life, full of blessings. To them we say, with joy, congratulations!
