Deirdre O’Rawe, Regional Director of Accord NI (Catholic Communications Office archive)
On the Feast of Saint Valentine, 14 February, you, or a representative, are invited to a photocall for the blessing of rings for engaged couples, and the renewal of marriage vows for milestone celebrants, led by Bishop Michael Router. Details:
When Saturday 14 February, couples will attend the celebration of Mass at 2.00pm.
Where Saint Colmcille’s Church, Upper Newtownards, Belfast BT14 3JB, in the Diocese of Down and Connor.
Who Bishop Michael Router, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Armagh and board member of Accord Northern Ireland, who will lead the blessing; Father Conor McGrath, Parish Priest of Saint Colmcille’s Church; Father Manuelito Milo, Administrator of Saint Malachy’s Church; Father Eddie Creamer CSsR of Clonard Monastery; Mrs Deirdre O’Rawe, Regional Director of Accord NI; and engaged and married couples. Photographer Liam McArdle will also be in attendance.
Accord NI
Commenting on the annual celebration Mrs O’Rawe said, “This joint Thanksgiving Eucharistic Celebration, hosted by Accord NI and Couples for Christ, offers an opportunity to highlight the importance of sacramental marriage and to honour married and engaged couples who have chosen the Sacrament of Matrimony as their vocation in life.
“As services rooted in Catholic values, Accord NI and Couples for Christ believe in the dignity of marriage and emphasise the need for effective marriage preparation, particularly in the areas of self-awareness and emotional literacy. Couples who avail of Accord’s Marriage Preparation Programme learn that bringing hope into their future marriage involves nurturing connection, fostering understanding, and developing a shared vision – even when challenges feel overwhelming.”
“We affirm the irreplaceable value of specialised couple counselling, particularly when accessed early, and the profound potential for healing through forgiveness, communication, and support. In the words of the late Pope Francis, ‘Marriage is not a static ideal but a lived witness to total, faithful, and fruitful love, even in brokenness, hope remains,'” Mrs O’Rawe said.
Photographer
Liam McArdle will take pictures at Saint Colmcille’s Church, and is available for contact by media wishing to publish these images, on +44 (0) 7900 107362 and on [email protected].
ENDS
Notes for Editors
- Accord was established in Belfast in 1962 to support sacramental marriage preparation, and couple counselling. Accord is managed from three corporate centres based in Maynooth, Dublin and Belfast. Accord’s Sacramental Marriage Preparation programme is grounded in the real life experience of couples today. It is purposeful, encouraging and fully oriented towards emphasising the good and beautiful aspects of married life. It is also very practical in providing couples with exercises, tools and resources to communicate more effectively with each other and to manage conflict constructively. Feedback from couples indicates how informative and useful they have found the programme, how engaging, relaxed and enjoyable it has been and, most significantly, that the programme has prompted them to discuss topics about their relationship that they have previously not thought to discuss or avoided discussing.