Marriage week

Celebrate National Marriage Week 2024

2024 01 13 wmd 2024 banner 2

Our annual diocesan celebration of World Marriage Day and National Marriage week will be on Friday, February 9, 2024!

For this year’s celebration, couples are invited to Mass with a special blessing by Bishop Timothy Freyer at 6 pm in the Arboretum. Bring the whole family!

  • Date Night kits will be provided for couples to take with them to continue their evening date offsite after Mass. 
  • Childcare will be available at the cathedral campus after Mass so couples can enjoy a date night out on their own. 
  • Nearby restaurants are listed for your dinner date after Mass. Make your own reservations in advance.

Your RSVP would be appreciated by February 5 so we can prepare for your date night kit and/or childcare needs!

Event Details

Bishop Freyer and the Office for Family Life look forward to welcoming you and your family to our celebration of National Marriage Week 2024. 

There are many events happening on campus that day. Here are a few important notes to ensure a smooth evening: 

Directions 

The Christ Cathedral campus is located at 13280 Chapman Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92840. We recommend that you enter through Gate 4 or 5 off of Lewis Avenue. Mass will be in the Arboretum. 

Parking 

Parking for our event’s guests will be reserved in P3. From there it is a short walk to the entrance of the Arboretum. 

See map below.

 

Your Arrival 

Please plan to arrive at least 10-15 minutes early to find parking and walk to the Arboretum. There are three additional very large events happening at the same time at the cathedral campus. We appreciate your patience! 

Schedule 

Mass will begin promptly at 6:00 pm in the Arboretum.  

Be sure to receive the renewal of commitment worship aid as you enter or from one of the ushers. 

After Mass, Bishop Freyer will be available for photos in the Arboretum foyer. Due to the large number of couples expected, one photo will be taken for each couple on your own device. 

Pick up your date night kits in the foyer and head out to your date!  

Childcare

Our volunteers will direct families after Mass from the foyer. Suggested donation for childcare is $10 per child and includes dinner. Please bring exact change if in cash or made out to “RCBO—Family Life” if by check. We also accept payments online via credit card. 

Christ Cathedral Map WMD2024 for web

Over the last two years, the National Eucharistic Revival has ushered the Catholic faithful into a greater faith and appreciation for the amazing sacramental gift of our Lord, who draws us to himself through our communion in his Body and Blood. As a practical way to incarnate the grace of the Revival into our families and communities, the bishops of California are dedicating the 2024-2025 pastoral year to helping the Catholic faithful renew and deepen our lived experience of the Sacrament of Marriage – which is modeled on the irrevocable covenantal love of God for his people expressed in the Eucharist.

Under the title “Radiate Love,” every Catholic community is invited to participate in this initiative, starting on World Marriage Day – February 11, 2024 – when couples all over the globe are called by God to invest in their relationships and let that love radiate out to the whole world, first and foremost in their own family. This soft launch of the initiative will be followed by monthly reflections, prayers, and other materials to help form the faith of Catholics of all ages, beginning in July, 2024.

 

 

Every year, National Marriage Week is February 7-14 and World Marriage Day is the second Sunday of February. 

National Marriage Week coincides with the week leading up to Valentine’s Day, making it the perfect time to celebrate the joys and virtues that marriage brings into our lives. Research consistently demonstrates that married couples experience great health, financial stability, and personal happiness. Moreover, it provides the best environment for raising children, offering them a better chance at life.

Join National Marriage Week in celebrating love beyond words and creating a lasting impact on the institution of marriage. For more information and to get involved, visit www.MarriageWeek.org.

"Our Story of Love" - share your story ❤

With the “Our Story of Love” initiative, we invite married couples to share your stories to your children and loved ones. You can fill out the below online form with answers to our inspiring questions or use your own ideas to tell your stories. Once submitted, the form sends your stories via email to up to 5 recipients of your choosing.

This is a great way for families to discover stories they never knew about their parents. It’s also an opportunity for couples to reconnect with important people from their wedding with whom they may have lost touch. The hope is that married couples will share about your experiences of sacramental marriage as faithful witnesses, conveying the love of Christ to your children and loved ones.

There are 5 optional questions provided, but feel free to skip the ones you don’t want to answer by clicking ‘Next.’ You are also able to upload an image to go with your stories!

Para español – Cuéntanos tu Cuento de Amor

Here are more ways couples can observe National Marriage Week (Feb. 7-14) and World Marriage Sunday (2nd Sunday of February):

The Diocese of Orange Office for Family Life offers many resources for married couples to help enrich and strengthen your marriage. Please check out our marriage enrichment webpage to see what is available. You can also sign up for our Diocese of Orange Marriage Formation Newsletter delivered quarterly to your email!