On Friday 4th February 2011, a Press Conference was held, during which the programme of activities for Marriage Week (7th – 13th February) was announced.
Marriage Week was held for the first time in Malta in 2010. That year, the activities consisted primarily of two National Conferences, one on 6th February and the other on the 13th. The main speakers during the first conference were the Prime Minister and Mrs Gonzi, and the Leader of the Opposition and Mrs Muscat, who shared their views on the definition of ‘healthy marriage’ and what action could be taken to further strengthen marriages in our country. The second conference was entitled ‘Family Trends in Malta – facts and figures’. The main speakers were the Director of the National Statistics Office and other officials. Both conferences were extremely well-attended.
The concept of Marriage Week was initiated by Mr Richard and Mrs Maria Kane in the United Kingdom. It was held for the first time in 1997. During the past thirteen years, this activity was taken up in several countries including the United States of America and Australia, as well as European countries such as Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Hungary, Belgium, Ireland, Holland, Romania, Slovakia. In future, it will also be held in Norway and Sweden.
Mr & Mrs Kane have also established a project called ‘Future Way Trust’, the scope of which is to spread awareness with regards to Marriage Week in as many countries of the world as possible. Their motto is ‘Celebrating our Commitment’.
The aim of Marriage Week is to organize activities in order to bring to light the following factors:
1. marriage is to the advantage of all,
2. it requires a commitment of the part of everyone in favour of strong marriages: couples, state, civil society and all religions,
3. the beauty of marriage and the sense of commitment which must necessarily be made by all the many young couples who are choosing this state of life.
On Monday 7th February, a National Conference will be held at the Phoenicia Ballroom, Floriana, between 6.30pm and 8.60pm with the theme ‘The Family in Europe Today’. The main speaker is Professor Francesco Belletti, Director of the International Centre for Family Studies in Milan. A short time will be allowed for brief comments or questions on the part of the audience.
On Saturday, 12th February, a seminar for youths, aged 18-35 is being organized by the Link Group (Qormi St George youths) with the collaboration of the Diocesan Family Commission. The theme of the seminar is ‘Family – Diversity, Effort and Sacrifice?’ and it will be held at the CAK Centre in B’Kara between 9am and 1.30pm.
On Sunday 13th February we shall celebrate ‘Christian Marriage Day’. At 9am a Mass will be celebrated at the Chapel of the Madonna tal Hlas in Qormi, This Mass will be animated by the Diocesan Family Commission and is being aired ‘live’ on Public Broadcasting Services. Members of Parish Family Commissions from all the parishes in the Diocese of Malta will participate in this event.
In the evening, Archbishop Paul Cremona has expressed his wish to meet all those engaged couples who are preparing to get married during this current year. He will celebrate Mass at St John’s Co Cathedral at 6.30pm. This activity is being organized by the Cana Movement.
Click on the photo to enlarge. The photos of the Archbishop’s events may be purchased from PHOTOCITY, Valletta. Tel: 21236723. Email: [email protected]