These past two weeks have been a blur. We’ve attended two beautiful weddings; one for our godson and the other of our nephew.
Marcus and Gianna
Marcus, our godson, has been in our lives his entire life. We have watched him grow and develop into a fine young man. Marcus is a humble young man who has an appreciation for the finer things in life, but what sets him apart is the deep dedication and love he has for his family. This loving character is an admirable quality to possess for someone his age.
Marcus and Gianna met while they were in high school. It did not take long for his family to fall in love with her. She is sweet, but this type of sweetness comes from the heart. Her charming, sincere personality can win anyone to her loving side.
God, in His perfect arrangement, brought these two hearts together. They dated for six years and grew not only in love with each other but in love with their families; they have become one.
The First Wedding
The Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano is called ” The Jewel of California Missions.” The altar is a masterpiece of Baroque art that is hand-carved cherrywood overlaid with gold leaf. This artwork was imported from Barcelona and is over 400 years old. To walk into this Basilica is to walk into history. My shoes had rubber soles but the Spanish terra cotta tile floors amplified the sound of my steps. When the wedding procession began, the sound of the trumpet and piped organ quickly filled the room with a sense of elation. As Gianna approached the altar, all eyes were on her and her beautiful veil as she drew near to meet her handsome groom. With 250 guests witnessing, Marcus and Gianna sealed their love before God.
During the reception Marcus came and sat next to me. He said,”I want to thank you and Mike because you have done a great job in always being there for me spiritually.” This is who Marcus is, a grateful young man who was gifted with a beautiful bride.
Rocky and Angela
My nephew Rocky is the youngest of four sons of my sister Jo, who lives in Louisiana. Since childhood Rocky has revealed his southern charm. He openly expresses affection through physical contact; he’s a touchy-feely type of guy. Rocky can win you over with an array of facial expressions.
After Hurricane Katrina, the college that Rocky was attending was so badly damaged by water that it temporarily closed. Through a benevolent act of kindness, the California universities extended a helping hand to students who were academically displaced during Katrina. In order to not disrupt these students’ education, this program waived all out-of-state fees. Rocky took advantage of this program by attending the University of California Irvine. He moved in with us and for three months studied at UCI. During this period we developed a deeper understanding of each other. My sister Jo, is a wonderful cook, made sure he had dinner every night. Since both of our children had already moved out, we were enjoying the empty nest; but when Rocky came along I felt obligated to cook dinner more often. This brought us even closer. Our good neighbor, who was the former mayor of Orange, arranged for Rocky to work for the Orange Public Library. I love this young man and am so elated that he found his soulmate Angela.
Rocky and Angela were introduced by mutual friends. He proposed to Angela on their one-year anniversary. I first met Angela when she came to our wedding/anniversary last January. I kept thinking that he needed to marry this girl quickly! I recognized her great qualities, but we all knew she was the one because of how much she loved Rocky. Angela is the young lady who stole his heart with her sparkling eyes and a smile that can capture everyone’s attention.
The Second Wedding
This wedding was held in the town of Gretna, Louisiana, at St. Joseph Church, which is located a stone’s throw away from one of the levees of the Mississippi River. St. Joseph Church was built in 1926 in Colonial Revival style with Spanish Baroque details. This beautiful church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. I was fascinated by all the beautiful stained glass and the bright designs at the nave of the church with it’s colors of blue, gold and terra cotta. As Angela moved down the aisle, the organ made the acoustics of the old church sound as if it were in stereo. Angela looked stunning and Rocky was one proud man that day. Before God and over 200 guests this beautiful couple completed their Sacrament of Marriage.
If you’re planning a wedding don’t forget to invite God, and have the ceremony celebrated in His house. These two couples will have extra blessings because the marriage was blessed by God!
New Orleans
With our entire family in tow, we visited Cafe du Monde. We all had our share of beignets and washed them down with cafe au lait. From there we walked down to Jackson Square. We visited the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. Over to the right corner I noticed a priest sitting in the confessional. I asked “Are you hearing confession?” “He answered, “Yes, please come in.” This priest had the most charming southern accent. “Y’all need to understand,” was part of what he said. I was relieved with his advice and did the penance that was asked of me. We continued our tour by walking down Bourbon Street. Our youngest grandson announced that he would wait until his kids were in high school before bringing them here. By tradition we had to have Daiquiris; mine was a delicious mango -flavored one.
We had lunch at Parkway Poor boys, but, sadly, Will and I ordered the wrong sandwiches. After making fun of us, the rest of the family shared their meals with us. At the rehearsal dinner we had Catfish Étouffée, Jambalaya and Andouille with vegetables. We had our share of southern cooking because at the wedding we ate more tasty Cajun dishes.
My Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for these two beautiful couples that they would always have You in their lives. May the love they have for each other become deeper, and may they grow old together. Dear Lord, put it in their hearts to attend Mass on a regular basis. May You bless them with healthy, beautiful children. Amen.
