Community weddings makes faith community stronger

Friday, Aug. 15, 2014

OGDEN — As “Here Comes the Bride” by Richard Wagner flooded Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Ogden and people rose from their pews, seven couples started up the aisle to  receive the Sacrament of Marriage in a community wedding Aug. 2 that was filled with joy and emotions.

Father Jorge Villegas and Deacon Honorio Moreno presided at the ceremony.

“Today is a very special and joyful day; let’s welcome these seven couples,” said Beatriz Padilla, a St. Joseph parishioner who gives the marriage classes.

The day was full of joy because “these seven couples have been blessed; they have received this special blessing that will change their lives forever,” said Fr. Villegas, who is a guest priest at the parish.

Each of the couples has their own history. “Some have been civilly married for 20 years, some for 15; others were just living together,” Padilla said.

Community weddings started happening in St. Joseph Parish three years ago, after the priests and Padilla learned that many people were not married in the Church for different reasons.

“Some said they didn’t have the money; others said they didn’t have any relatives,” said Padilla.

Father Jose Barrera, who at that time was parochial vicar at St. Joseph, suggested that they do a community wedding, “and the response was great,” said Padilla.

When Fr. Barrera was assigned to the Cathedral of the Madeleine, he suggested that they continue to celebrate community weddings in Ogden, and the parish pastor, Father Ken Vialpando, supported the idea, said Padilla. “We told him they didn’t have money and he said that that shouldn’t matter; that the important part is to receive the sacrament.”

The message that Padilla hopes the community weddings send to those who participate is that “we care for them. We are here to help them as much as we can; here we are giving them the opportunity to do it [get married] at no cost and maybe this is the opportunity that many are waiting for. … Sometimes the Church can help, but they also have to do something; they have to search for help. The Church is here for them.”

People who need help should ask for it, she added. “Talk to us. Talk to your  priest. There is a chance that they will receive the blessing. The help is here; they just have to ask.  Maybe this is just a little help, but it is something.”

At the Aug. 2 ceremony, Fr. Villegas spoke tenderly to the couples, outlining that now their marriage union was a holy one.

“The joy and love of this blessing is why today we are all celebrating, it is why we all are happy. God is giving you a blessing that will sanctify your love,” said Fr. Villegas.

The couples who received the sacrament were Jimmy Nolasco and Nancy García, Alfredo Díaz and Eneida Rincón, José Oscar Cuevas and Maria del Rosario Pardo, Daniel Ambriz and Laura Solis,  José Eduardo Cisneros and Melina Ortiz, Jose Nuñez and Araceli Cornejo and  Nelson García and Paula Sánchez.