Sinencio and Natividad Hernandez were among more than 300 married couples who renewed their vows of holy matrimony during the annual Spanish Mass in Honor of World Marriage Day at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Auxiliary Bishop Joseph A. Espaillat served as principal celebrant and homilist. The Mass is sponsored each year by the archdiocesan Movimiento Matrimonial Católico (MMC). In all, about 1,200 people attended the Feb. 12 afternoon Mass, including supportive relatives and friends of the couples.
“This Mass is very important; it has always been a good way to show the community the significance of holy matrimony,” Sinencio Hernandez, 60, told The Good Newsroom before the Mass started. He noted that he and his wife have taken part in the annual Mass several times.
Mrs. Hernandez, 55, said, “This gathering is about helping to save families, save homes, and marriages. It is a blessing for us to be part of this group (MMC), to help give testimonials about all the good things that this (support) group does for many families and the community.”
Sinencio and Natividad have been married for 35 years; they have four grown children. Their home parish is St. Raymond’s in the Bronx.
Bishop Espaillat, in opening remarks, noted to the faithful that “marriage and family is the nucleus of society; and when the nucleus is not well, then society is not well. And so it is necessary that we pray for all families.”
Later during the homily, the bishop spoke to the couples about the importance of maintaining Christ at the center of their marriage; and he spoke of the importance of fidelity, forgiveness, and passing on the faith to their children, noting that parents are the first teachers of their sons and daughters. “Children learn from what they see,” he said.
And he talked of how cell phones and social media have become too much of a distraction in family life, in society in general, and how too many times these distractions are being overused and misused. He warned the couples not to allow technology to raise their children.
Bishop Espaillat lamented the rise in New York violence among teens and young adults. “Violence at this moment is epic; it is young people killing young people,” he said, adding, “I don’t know about you, but that breaks my heart…Those of you who know me, know that working with young people is my passion.”
And that is why, he noted, that he was glad to see so many couples at the Mass ready to renew their vows. “All of you are the hope,” the bishop said, noting he was proud of the couples and the good examples they are showing to their children and the community.
In addition to leading married couples in renewing their vows, Bishop Espaillat gave a blessing to nearly 150 couples who are not married through the Church but are seeking to do so. And he thankfully acknowledged the presence of his parents, who were sitting in the sanctuary with the concelebrants; he noted they’ve been married for 48 years, and the faithful applauded.
Seven couples who got married in 2022 through the Church with help from the MMC were acknowledged during the Mass. They were: Lorenzo and Maria Rivera; Virgilio and Yeimy Perdomo; Reyes and Isabel Devora; Kelvin and Altagracia Cabrera; Steven and Ana Guaba; Juan Carlos and Carmen Lora; and Freddy and Lucas Leonardo.
At the end of Mass, lead organizers Maximo and Marcia Correa offered words of joy and gratitude. The couple heads the Movimiento Matrimonial Católico. A grateful Mrs. Correa told The Good Newsroom later, “The bishop’s homily massage was great, it was necessary for all of us as spouses and as parents – keeping the Lord at the center of marriage."