Blessed be St Joachim and St Ann! In celebration of their feast day the Family Life Unit (FLU) of St Charles Borromeo in Tunapuna had a wonderful breakfast morning for 65 couples on Sunday, July 22. The Parish centre was well laid out with tables weighed down with food when the couples accompanied by their children entered right after Mass.

Mr and Mrs De Souza enjoy dancing after sharing their story

Nicole Ashby Remy and her husband Emerson who make a great team as leaders of the FLU were eagerly waiting with a warm welcome. Other Unit members were busy ushering and sorting everyone out to ensure that people mixed rather than stuck with their friends. Fr Hezekiah prayerfully blessed all participants and the food before a sumptuous breakfast was served. Fr Reggie’s fancy juice dispensers had to be refilled time and time again and the children were unable to clean out the ice-boxes of packaged drinks provided for them. During breakfast, the young ones sat at a table in the main hall where they could see their parents and their parents could keep an eye on them. Later they were taken away to play games led by Ronald Clapperton. Denzel Headley a young altar server from the parish provided entertainment on the pan during breakfast.

When breakfast was over and all so inclined had seconds, the festivities began. All through the morning our special DJ Bryan kept us musically entertained – wonderful selections as always. With Nicole as Master of Ceremonies, couples voluntarily shared their experiences. What did they do on their first date, a special memory from courtship? How did they meet? The De Souzas shared their romantic meeting. He had passed her on the street and felt compelled to say hello, then looking back he saw her in a halo of sunlight and decided that God was saying something to him. Returning to her, after a little resistance, he managed to persuade her into at least taking his phone number. The resistance part was rather hilarious as were some of the other sharings.

Marriage Jokes were shared by the emcee and to everyone’s delight, our beloved parish priest Fr Hezekiah. Theresa Joseph, FLU member shared a well-rounded recipe for a good marriage. Gifts were given to the most recently married couple, the longest married couple, the couple celebrating their anniversary on the feast of St Joachim and St Ann and the most recently celebrated anniversary. The floor was then opened to dancing and 12 couples delightedly responded.

It was a morning of camaraderie, new friendships, joyful reunions and many blessings. Well done, FLU! – Vera Allen, Communications Team, St Charles