This year, we celebrate World Marriage Day on Sunday, Feb. 11. Observed annually on the second Sunday of February, the day honors a husband and wife as the foundation of the family and celebrates the joys and blessings of married life.
“Radiate Love” is the name of the California Catholic Conference’s (CCC) marriage initiative, which soft launches this World Marriage Day and officially launches this summer. The initiative lasts until next summer, 2025.
According to the CCC, beginning on World Marriage Day, “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.” (https://cacatholic.org/)
To honor the blessed union of husbands and wives, the OC Catholic has invited three married couples within the Diocese of Orange to reflect on their wedding day and the role of God within their marriage.
NEWLY WEDDED COUPLE, LINDA AND FRANCIS JI PERFORM A PRAISE DANCE BEFORE RECESSING DOWN THE AISLE. PHOTO COURTESY OF LINDA JI
LINDA AND FRANCIS JI (Linda is the director of the Office for Family Life, Diocese of Orange)
What is the name of the church where you got married and how long have you been married?
We were married at St. Raphael Korean Catholic Center in Norwalk, CA and we’ve been married almost 12 years.
What is a favorite moment from your wedding day?
Linda: My favorite moment from our wedding day was at the end of the Mass when we did a little praise dance number before recessing down the aisle. It was my idea, and I appreciated that he was up for being a little silly with me! Later, I saw that our wedding videographer had captured him practicing for it while he was suiting up in his tux before Mass. It’s a post-credit blooper scene in our wedding video.
Francis: My favorite moment from our wedding day was at our reception. As part of one of our reception games, guests had to wager whether or not I could do 10 deep squats while holding Linda in my arms. Some said yes, others no, but I did all 10 with Linda in my arms effortlessly! (Please don’t ask us to do this now though.)
What role does your Catholic faith play in your marriage?
Our Catholic faith is a huge part of our marriage, and we cannot imagine our marriage without Christ. We believe truly that God brought us together (that’s a longer story). He keeps us together, and we know He is with us always. We’ve had many ups and downs. We’ve had to discern challenging questions, power through trials and find great joy in small spaces—all things we’ve been able to do because the truth and beauty of our faith illuminates these things before us. From the supper table to the cross, Christ is real in our family every day.
What is the best marriage advice you have received or can give to others?
Linda: I’ll always remember what the priest who prepared us for marriage cautioned us: to tend to the “little cuts” in our relationship as we go, because those hundreds of little cuts left unattended are more likely to bleed us out into a crisis more so than a huge wound or single blow.
Francis: Be patient.
FRANCIS AND LINDA JI HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR ALMOST 12 YEARS. PHOTO COURTESY OF LINDA JI
TONY AND ROSIE MERCADO ON THEIR WEDDING DAY, AUG. 9, 2002. PHOTO COURTESY OF DEACON TONY MERCADO
DEACON TONY MERCADO AND HIS WIFE ROSIE (Deacon Tony is a permanent deacon at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fullerton)
What is the name of the church where you got married and how long have you been married?
We were married at St. Juliana Falconieri Catholic Church, on Aug. 9, 2002. We’ve been married for 21 years.
What is a favorite moment from your wedding day?
Tony: There were a few things that really stood out that day, but I was really happy that I was marrying my best friend. I was happy that GOD and my family were there to witness our wedding.
Rosie: Having our first dance together.
What role does your Catholic faith play in your marriage?
Tony: My faith plays the most important part in my marriage. The most important part of my marriage is that I made a promise to GOD with my promise to Rosie.
Rosie: If it wasn’t for our faith, who knows if we would still be married.
What is the best marriage advice you have received or can give to others?
Tony: Always be honest. Enjoy marriage, kids, family, etc. Be happy. Have fun! Laugh it up!
Rosie: Keep GOD first.
DEACON TONY MERCADO AND HIS WIFE ROSIE HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR 21 YEARS. PHOTO COURTESY OF DEACON TONY MERCADO
ELIZABETH AND LEO SANDOVAL ON THEIR WEDDING DAY, AUG. 28, 1999. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ELIZABETH SANDOVAL
ELIZABETH AND LEO SANDOVAL (Elizabeth is the Vocations coordinator for the Diocese of Orange)
What is the name of the church where you got married and how long have you been married?
St. Joseph Church, Santa Ana; Aug. 28, 1999. We will be celebrating our 25th Anniversary.
What is a favorite moment from your wedding day?
Elizabeth: There were many wonderful moments on this day. If I was to pick a moment, it would be when we were posing for the pictures at the park. For my husband, his favorite moment would be the blessing at the end of the Mass. He was so nervous as his parents were being represented by his eldest sister.
What role does your Catholic faith play in your marriage?
For us, God made it possible for the both of us to have crossed paths at St. Joseph Church, where our dear friend, Fr. Christopher Smith celebrated and blessed our union, and spent many years volunteering afterwards before fully dedicating ourselves to the family. Faith has been vital in our commitment to one another. And although there was a time in which we stopped going to church, we went back realizing that there was something missing in our family.
What is the best marriage advice you have received or can give to others?
The marriage advice that we can give is to not lose respect for one another. Build your nest from the bottom up. Never forget to be grateful to your parents by continuing to help them, if needed, after getting married. In the long run, you will be able to see the fruits as the years pass.
LEO AND ELIZABETH SANDOVAL HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR ALMOST 25 YEARS.