Marriage and family
SOCIETY TODAY has become more and more accustomed to the idea of the living together and even having children without the lifelong commitment that is supposed to happen in a marital relationship. This makes for unhappy and disjointed family life. Yet, the cycle continues with the next generation continuing the process. Even when couples in Jamaica get married, the marriages often end in divorce. At the Family Life Commission, the Church is trying to make a difference. We believe that with proper marriage preparation, marriage will last longer and sometimes even until, ‘death do us part’. The first and foremost thing for us all to realise is that marriage is a very important sacrament, having been instituted by God Himself, “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and joins himself to his wife and the two shall become one body” (Gen 3:24). It stands to reason then that it is very important that couples make sure that God is an intimate partner of the marriage ceremony. At the Family Life Commission, we have been preparing couples for marriage for many years. The main programme is referred to as Pre-Cana Seminars, and they are generally run four times per year. The Archdiocese now considers it compulsory for those wishing to get married in the Catholic Church.
Add to that the importance of getting timely help from a counselling professional or a priest, deacon, or even an older couple who themselves are happily married. With this help, couples should have a better chance of enjoying a happy marriage and family for a very long time.
For those who are putting off getting married because they cannot afford the celebration, at the Family Life Commission, we are promoting the idea of getting married without the wedding reception. This, of course, should not happen without the standard marriage preparations offered by a priest or deacon and a Pre-Cana seminar. JOHNNY MAIS Chairman, Archdiocesan Family Life Commission