Why Do We Have to Get Married in a Church?
Often, I get asked: “Why do we have to get married in a church?”
Author Archive for: Edward.Herrera
Entries by Edward Herrera
Accompany: Where Are We Going and Who Is Driving?
Inevitably, when my wife and I are able to find a babysitter for our three delightful (read: crazy) children under five years old to go on a date, we sit in the car for fifteen minutes trying to figure out where to go for dinner. Neither of us has a clue what we are hungry […]
Our Young Adults: Single By Default
Two weeks ago, my colleague, Craig, wrote an excellent piece on bridging the gaps the Church is facing with the young adult population. It reminded me of an article on being single by default from America Magazine. I found the author’s experience and reflections very helpful for ministering to young adults (YAs) discerning marriage and the […]
Let’s Make Marriage Preparation Relevant
Too often, as lay ecclesial ministers, priests, and deacons, we complain that engaged couples require a great deal of time and energy from the parish but, in the end, many couples simply use the Church for their wedding after which they are never to be seen at the parish again. Conversely, engaged couples complain about […]
Why – and How – We All Need to Read ‘Amoris Laetitia’
There has been a lot of buzz about Pope Francis’ Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, “The Joy of Love” which came out last Friday. There’s a good reason for that. And it’s not the one you’ve seen in the headlines.
Lent and Marriage: A Match Made at the Synod
Pope Francis and the bishops at the Synod on the Family called for marriage preparation to take on a catechumenal form. What an exciting proposition! When preparing couples for marriage, I invite them to model their immediate marriage preparation after Lent and Advent.