Sacrament of marriage gives strength to live as husband and wife

The National Faith

MEROLYN Philip and Jason Parascos were the youngest of six couples who celebrated the Sacrament of Marriage on Sept 23 at the church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish, Sideia, Milne Bay.
Philip is a teacher at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Primary School.
Parascos was studying to be a pilot but forced to discontinue his studies due to financial constraints.
“Christ is the essential part of my family,” Philip said.
“It is the Lord who brings joy and happiness into our lives.
“When Christ is absent, then there is sadness.”
She said this at the end of a solemn Eucharistic celebration commemorating 50 years of the parish of Sideia.
The two expressed their joy at celebrating the Sacrament of Marriage, and promised to respect, love and honour each other for the rest of their lives.
“When we came to church, it was sad that we were just observers of the celebration, as we did not receive Christ,” Philip said.
“Today we are overjoyed.
“The Sacrament of marriage will give us strength and courage to live together as husband and wife.
“We wish to bring up our little daughter in committed and happy family environment”, Merolyn said.
In his sermon, Bishop Rolando highlighted the need to thank the Lord for the MSC priests who established the parish and all who worked over the past 50 years.
He invited all to proclaim God in their lives, defend life and love and reflect the Blessed Trinity in their lives.
He stressed on three points:

  • Trust in God;
  • Service; and,
  • Unity.

Rolando congratulated the six couples and reminded them that they were servants of life.
“In Christian marriage Christ is the centre,” he said.
“Marriage is a sign to the world of the love and unity present in the Blessed Trinity. It is a school of love, where there is a commitment to marriage and the family.
“It is in the home that education commences.” The celebration was well prepared with a harmonious hymns and cultural dances.
“On this celebration of 50 years of the establishment of the parish, I was hoping that there would be 50 couples celebrating the Sacrament of Marriage.
“We congratulate the six couples who have taken on this bold step,” the parish priest Fr Henry Ramos RCJ said.
“We pray that each of them will be a good example to the rest of the parish community.”