17 couples tie the knot in mass church wedding

PAMPANGA. Couples tie the knot during a recent mass wedding at Nuestra Senora Parish Church in San Simon organized by former Mayor Rodrigo Canlas, Mayor Leonora Wong, Sangguniang Bayan and Rev. Fr. Homer Policarpio. (Chris Navarro)
PAMPANGA. Couples tie the knot during a recent mass wedding at Nuestra Senora Parish Church in San Simon organized by former Mayor Rodrigo Canlas, Mayor Leonora Wong, Sangguniang Bayan and Rev. Fr. Homer Policarpio. (Chris Navarro)

SAN SIMON -- Couple Benjamin and Melinda Patawaran have been living together for 17 years now along with their two kids but their union was never blessed with a matrimonial ceremony due to financial constraints.

But on Tuesday, the Patawaran couple, together with 16 other pairs, finally tied the knot in front of the altar during the Catholic mass wedding ceremony at the Nuestra Señora del Pilar (NSDP) Parish Church sponsored by the local government here.

The local government also sponsored the wedding rings, cord and veil used in the ceremony, and the reception complete with a wedding cake to top off the dream wedding of the couple-beneficiaries.

According to Mayor Leonora Wong, who, together with former Mayor Rodrigo “Digos” Canlas, served as primary sponsors in the wedding, said that the mass wedding was offered to all Simonian couples who wanted to be wedded but are financially incapable.

“We wanted them to receive the blessing of Apung Pilar (San Simon’s patron saint) in their union, especially that most of them already have children. Now that they are officially married, we hope that their union will become more fruitful” she said.

Rev. Fr. Homer Policarpio, who presided over the ceremony, lauded the effort of the local government in organizing such an activity that aims to strengthen and officially place God in the relationship of Simonian couples.

He cited the importance of receiving the sacrament of matrimony, the gift the local government gives before a loving couple lives together and builds their own family.

“The sacrament of matrimony is a blessing from God. A blessing that is expected to lighten up the union of a man and a woman as they build their own family. A blessing that is expected to help them lead their own children into better citizens of the Lord,” he said.

A.R. and Anne Canlas, who represented the ex-mayor in the ceremony, meanwhile, gave advice to the newly-weds: “Always be loyal and trust your partners and always put God at the center of your relationship.”

The Canlas couple, who have been married for nine years now and are blessed with two children, also reminded the newly-weds to always prioritize the needs of their children and work hard to provide a better future for the family.

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