The hand of God touches sacramental marriage - priest

Fr. Mike Dechant says marriage is a visible sign of God’s love

- WCR photo by Ramon Gonzalez Ken and Martha Manning renew their vows to strengthen their marriage covenant.

By RAMON GONZALEZ
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

It was an emotional and happy moment for Ken and Martha Manning as the couple faced each other and renewed their vows to love and honour each other all the days of their lives.

The Mannings, married for over five decades, were one of 52 couples who attended World Marriage Day at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church Hall Feb. 17 and had their vows renewed before Oblate Father Mike Dechant.

The Mannings, who celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary Jan. 13, were honoured as the longest married couple attending the event. They received a standing ovation from participating couples and a bouquet of flowers from organizers.

The couple believes renewing their vows will strengthen their marriage covenant. “I thought it was a useful exercise,” Ken said after the celebration. “The more I am in this relationship, the more I like it.” With a smile on her face Martha said, “I agree with Ken.”

World Marriage Day is celebrated in the Church around the world on the second Sunday of February to honour the lifetime commitment of husbands and wives. It celebrates the beauty of faithfulness, sacrifice and joy in daily married life.

“Sacramental marriage is a visible sign of God’s love for us,” said Dechant, declaring his priesthood has been enriched by his work with married couples over the years.

Hand of God

“Other than the Eucharist, sacramental marriage is probably the most important way in which we can be touched by the hand of God.”

Dechant, along with Jim and Mary Ganton of Worldwide Marriage Encounter, were the day’s main speakers.

Holding Hands and Reaching Out was the theme of the event, which offered four sessions on how to live a better marriage by reaching out. The pastoral office of marriage and family life also sponsored the celebration.

During a Mass following the event, Archbishop Richard Smith acknowledged World Marriage Day and urged the congregation to thank God for giving the sacrament of marriage to the Church and to the world.

“In the sacredness of matrimony we are given a sign of the love of God,” he said, thanking the couples present “for your fidelity to your call from God” and “for giving your children the gift of faith.”

The Mannings, who offered a session called Reaching out in Retirement during World Marriage Day, raised four boys and four girls during their 52-year marriage. And now the members of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish are also enjoying 17 grandchildren and one great-grandson.

“It’s been very interesting and very busy raising eight children,” Martha Manning said.

Coping alone

“As a pilot (for the Air Force) Ken was always away.” One time Ken was away in training for six months and Martha stayed behind with the children. “Good thing we lived within walking distance of the church, the school and the YMCA,” she laughed. “And during those years you didn’t have to worry so much about the kids.”

Added Ken: “It’s pretty obvious that our marriage has been a sacrament. We worked through many obstacles and we never even thought of divorce as a possibility.”

Martha thinks people nowadays are too quick to run away from the difficulties of marriage. “I don’t think young people have the same commitment as we did.”

Nowadays the Mannings enjoy their retirement days travelling, spending time with their grandchildren and volunteering in the Church and in the community. Ken is an accomplished woodworker and has carved anything from church furnishings to crucifixes.

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