Detroit — Two people stare into each other’s eyes, making promises between themselves and God that they will love each other until death do them part.

The archbishop reads the marital rites, and the couple affirms they wish to be married in God’s Church. They kiss, applause is heard throughout the church. The couple is smiling, ready to begin their journey together with God.

Then the couple steps to the right and two other people walk up to the archbishop. They stare into each other’s eyes, making promises …

On Sept. 9, 14 couples lined down the main aisle of St. Christopher Church in Detroit to be married by Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron.

The Archdiocese of Detroit’s second group wedding, like last year’s at St. Damien of Molokai Parish in Pontiac, encouraged couples living together to enter into the sacrament of matrimony.

“The group wedding is a result of an evangelization effort,” said Fr. Jaime Hinojos, pastor of St. Christopher-St. Thomas Aquinas Parish on Detroit’s west side. “It’s kerygmatic, which means the first message of proclamation of the Gospel, that first intent to reach out to those open to receive the Lord’s message in their hearts.”
Part of reaching out with the Lord’s message meant reaching out to couples who weren’t married but have been living together — up to 20 years in some cases.

“We’ve had couples living together for a number of years and had kids,” Fr. Hinojos said. “Their kids were getting ready to make their first Communion, and said it was going to be sad with the kids making their first Communion, and the parents will be just watching, because they can’t receive Communion.”

Fr. Hinojos saw it as an opportunity to encourage couples to finally tie the knot. The parish recruited couples to attend Rebirth, a dynamic, 10-week evangelization program, before beginning Alpha marriage courses — seven romantic evenings for the couples, led by two parishioners, to learn what it means live as husband and wife within the Church.

The first portion, Fr. Hinojos said, was “a very structured message of the encounter of God through Jesus Christ. After they have that, the Alpha marriage course goes through communication, resolving conflict, making time for each other, the importance of prayer and reconciliation. All of these topics that have to do with marriage.”

Ricardo and Martha Morones were married at the parish Sept. 9 and spoke with The Michigan Catholic about how their lives have changed since the Rebirth and Alpha marriage programs.

“We feel that we were moved by the Holy Spirit,” Ricardo Morones said. “We felt moved when we were discussing evangelization. In dynamic evangelization, I learned to read the Bible, and in Alpha for Marriage how to integrate the lessons from the Bible into dialogue as a couple.”

Ricardo and Martha have been living together for three years and have five children together. Martha said her children really encouraged her and her husband to go to classes.

“The children showed a real joy when they found out we were going to the sessions,” Martha Morones said. “The kids would look at the clock, telling us to not miss the sessions that were coming up.”

Now married, Ricardo and Martha have noticed something different about themselves, and they want to share that difference with others.

“We feel happy to know we weren’t alone, that this opportunity has come to us,” Martha Morones said. “We want to help other marriages. We’re going to be part of the group, the team that will continue to run Alpha in the parish. This entire experience has been a great benefit to us, but also the children.”

Fr. Hinojos reports there is something different about all the couples who were married that day.

“They’re transformed; I see it in their faces,” Fr. Hinojos said. “I used to see the women, dragging and sad, making it day by day. But after receiving the Gospel, you can see their faces smiling. Couples coming to Mass, joyful and participating in Communion, being joyful missionary disciples.

“We now have a parish of people who want to be part of parish life,” Fr. Hinojos said. “People who want to be part of ministries, who want to teach catechesis. Everyone is now encouraged to share their time, talent and treasure.”