Putting the soul back into marriage – that must remain the aim of Catholic Engaged Encounter (CEE), which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

In urging CEE in the Caribbean to continue to defend and support the sacrament of marriage, Fr Joseph Harris CSSp. declared: “Our task is to ensure that the soul gets back into marriage. Without that, we’ll be spinning top in mud.”

Fr Harris preached the homily at the CEE 25th anniversary Mass last Sunday at St Charles RC Church, Tunapuna, at which Archbishop Edward Gilbert was chief celebrant.

Other concelebrants were CEE spiritual director, Fr Roger Pascall; Fr Robert Llanos, Vicar for Family Life and Chair of the Archdiocesan Family Life Commission; former CEE spiritual director Fr Neil Rodriguez CSSp; and Frs Wilfred John and Hugh Joyeau, both of whom have assisted at CEE weekends.

The Mass culminated activities to celebrate the anniversary. A series of talks was held the previous day, June 9, at Emmaus Centre, Arima. The theme for the 25th anniversary celebration was, “Your will for us Lord is to be one for the rest of our lives.”

Those involved in CEE from Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Grenada, Dominica and Antigua attended, along with specially invited guests like CEE International team couple, Stephen and Claudia Schulz, and the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny community at Emmaus Centre, where CEE weekends are usually held.

Fr Harris, drawing his homily from the readings, said the role of a king was to be a defender of the defenceless and a support for those in need of it. He said Christians were called to not only be imitators of Christ but to be priest, prophet and king.

“Our vocation as Christians is to exercise the role of kingship in our daily lives. As prophets, we must proclaim the message.” with family life being in crisis, Fr Harris stressed that as people who prepared engaged couples for married life, “CEE must exercise its role of biblical kingship in a society that doesn’t support marriage….You are called to be in the defence and support of marriage for the couples you prepare. Proclaim the message where marriage is concerned. Through your programmes people have to come to understand the true message of marriage”.

Elvina Wellington (left) and Allison Raeburn-Roberts greet former CEE spiritual director Fr Neil Rodriguez, CSSp, who has been associated with the organisation since its inception in Trinidad

Fr Harris, speaking of his work as Judicial Vicar for the Marriage Tribunal, said many couples request the Tribunal to investigate their marriages, seeking an annulment.

He said he found that many of these couples had no sense of marriage as a vocation.

“Our duty is to instill in couples that marriage is a sublime vocation,” he stated, lamenting the absence of two virtues – stability and a willingness to put spouse first. He explained that stability was important and needed to be inculcated in marriage since “marriage is a lifelong project”.

As he ended, Fr Harris thanked God for CEE’s 25 years of service. “I ask God to continue to inspire you, to give you the gift of wisdom, and not to lose hope.” He expressed confidence that the negative marriage statistics could be reversed, helping marriage to become more like what God intended.

Before giving the final blessing, Archbishop Gilbert delivered a short address. He thanked CEE couples for their ministry and the Cluny Sisters for their support. He reminded CEE leaders of the importance of the spiritual dimension to their programme, saying: “You can no longer assume people who come to you have a spiritual foundation.”

The Archbishop also noted that those who attended CEE weekends came because they had to, not because they wanted to. He urged leaders not to become concerned about a possible lack of continuity but to have confidence in God and in each other. “The challenge seems enormous, but never be discouraged,” he said.

A luncheon at the parish hall was held after Mass. Before the meal, national CEE coordinators Lester and Aura Victor presented a short report on the work of the CEE over the years and their plans for the future, including outreach to other islands.

According to the Victors, more than 5,000 engaged couples, Catholic as well as non-Catholic, have participated in CEE weekends.

Among those bringing greetings during the luncheon were the Schulzes, Fr Llanos and Caribbean CEE couple Barbara and Jose Salazar.

Tokens of appreciation were presented to a number of couples and individuals, including TO Kay and Wilfred Holder and Fr Neil Rodriguez. The Holders were instrumental in introducing CEE to the archdiocese 25 years ago, while Fr Rodriguez has been a CEE priest since its introduction. The three received standing ovations.