NJ Church Helps 8 Immigrant Couples Exchange Vows In Group Wedding

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A church community in North Jersey recently came together to help eight immigrant couples exchange vows during a group wedding ceremony.

The heartwarming wedding took place on Valentine’s Day at St. James Church in Newark.

According to the Archdiocese of Newark, the newlyweds – who are Brazilian and primarily Portuguese-speaking – each faced challenges completing the paperwork and marriage preparation courses required for a Catholic wedding.

Recognizing the communication barrier, the parish pastor, Azizi Manuel Tempesta, arranged for all of the necessary documents to be translated into Portuguese. He then helped the couples submit them.

Meanwhile, bilingual parishioners volunteered to lead the marriage preparation courses in Portuguese for the grateful couples.

After completing all requirements, the happy couples were honored with a wedding celebration supported entirely by the parish community: the Music Ministry provided liturgical music, the Communications Ministry captured photos, and the Welcome Ministry greeted guests.

After the ceremony, the Marriage Ministry hosted a reception lunch in the church hall for the newlyweds, their loved ones and the people who supported them.

“It was a dream come true to see my parishioners united like this,” said Tempesta, who estimated that nearly 500 people attended the wedding.

Moving forward, the St. James community plans to assist additional Portuguese-speaking couples through the marriage preparation process. The parish also hopes to host collective weddings around Feb. 14 each year – hopefully creating a new Valentine’s Day tradition.

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