SW News: There is good news from Ireland where the number of Catholic believers attending marriage preparation courses conducted by Accord CLG is back to the figures before the outbreak of the COVID pandemic. This was announced by Tony Shanahan, the director of the outfit which helps Catholic men and women undergo preparatory programs for Holy Matrimony. Last year, CLG conducted 297 programs for 4,610 Catholic couples. In 2019, the number of programs stood at 285 for the same number of couples.

According to Shanahan, the Central Statistics Office released figures for 2021 saying 57 percent of all weddings in Ireland had religious ceremonies out of which 39 percent comprised Catholic marriages with the number standing at 6,721. This proves that the future is bright as far as Church weddings are concerned.

While speaking at Dublin's St Valentine’s shrine in Whitefriar Street Church, Shanahan said, “As marriage is the greatest undertaking in life for most people, we encourage preparation as a prerequisite to success. For over sixty years Accord has helped couples to prepare and, from our experience, it is best to undertake a marriage preparation course six to nine months ahead of the wedding date.”

He said it is a great chance for couples to “discuss the current strength of their relationship, and identify key elements that are handled well, and those areas that would benefit from further development. In terms of atmosphere, our programs are relaxed and facilitated by professionals with lived marriage experience, he added.

Separately, Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare and Leighlin announced that he is planning to designate a Sunday of Welcome to greet newly married couples on their first, second and third wedding anniversaries. He said in a statement that the Holy Father Pope Francis wants bishops and priests to accompany “couples in their life journey. Like God, we too are by their side, walking alongside the couple, at their pace, in their step”

The prelate said “the day a couple celebrates the sacrament of marriage is a huge day of joy and celebration; maybe we should also find some way of marking their first, second and third anniversaries! Sending them a card, remembering to text, give them a call. Perhaps our parish communities might find ways of welcoming young couples”.

On the feast day of St Valentine on Feb. 14, Bishop Nulty celebrated Holy Mass at the Shrine of St. Valentine which contains the holy relics of the Roman martyr bishop. During Mass, he blessed two engaged couples and their rings. Married couples also renewed their vows during the liturgy.