Fall Marriage Supplement

Marriage vows are promise to God to be faithful in love

By Mary Ann Wyand

Being faithful in love, devoted to God and open to life, Colin and Lauren Andrews believe, are the keys to a happy marriage and a life together filled with many blessings.

The Andrews, who are members of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Indianapolis, chose a Scripture reading from the Gospel of Matthew for their nuptial Mass last October to emphasize their devotion to God and their commitment to each other. The passage reads, in part, “… they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate” (Mt 19:3-6).

Author Christopher West, a noted proponent of the late Pope John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body,” emphasizes in his books and speeches that marriage vows involve the promise for a lifetime of “free, total, faithful, fruitful love.”

That is their priority every day as they await the birth of their first child in September, and pray that God will bless them with a long marriage and large family.

Lauren Senac and Colin Andrews met nine years ago as freshmen at Bethel College in Mishawaka, Ind.

Their friendship blossomed into a love for God and for each other rooted in their faith that was strong enough to sustain their relationship when they were living half a world apart. She taught English at a grade school in China during 2003 and he pursued graduate studies at the Ave Maria School of Law in Ann Arbor, Mich.

They share a devotion to God, the Catholic Church and

pro-life work. Now she serves as office manager for Right to Life of Indianapolis and he specializes in employment law in Carmel, Ind. She plans to be a stay-at-home mother.

On their wedding day, she carried a bouquet of red roses—the pro-life symbol—and calla lilies during the novus ordo Mass celebrated in Latin by Father Dennis Duvelius on Oct. 21, 2006, at historic Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Indianapolis.

They met Father Duvelius, pastor of St. Louis Parish in Batesville, when he formerly served as associate pastor of Holy Rosary Parish. He was assisted by Father Michael Magiera, a member of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter and current associate pastor of Holy Rosary Parish, who also sang the “Ave Maria” during their wedding.

“When you love, you want the good for someone just as you want the good for yourself,” Father Magiera explained in a July 8 interview. “… With the grace of God, you spend your married life trying to do that.”

As part of her marriage preparation, she prayed before the Blessed Sacrament for an hour every Saturday morning at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Carmel, Ind.

“It was very important to us to have our wedding focused on the Eucharist,” Lauren said. “As the wedding began, I was so at peace and able to focus on the Eucharist and the fact that I was getting married to this person that I have loved for a very long time. It was wonderful.”

Colin enjoys thinking about their future as parents.

“When you get married and have kids, your relationship lasts beyond yourself,” he said. “You become a saint through everyday life. ... We love our faith and we love each other. We’re open to the grace of God and his teaching. There’s grace that comes with having children, and we’re open to life and his plan for us. That’s the greatest grace.” †