On Sunday 8 February, the Archdiocese of Liverpool celebrated its annual Marriage and Family Life Mass, welcoming around 500 people to the Metropolitan Cathedral. The service brought married couples from across the region together to give thanks for the gift of married life.

Archbishop John Sherrington invited all couples to renew their vows and blessed each marriage with words of encouragement and faith. Around 70 couples had signed up to receive a certificate marking their commitment, while couples celebrating significant anniversaries were specially recognised.

As part of the service, couples were also invited to commemorate a loved one by writing a message on a tag and attaching it to a white rose. These roses were included in the offertory as a tribute to those held dear.

In his homily, Archbishop John reflected on the importance of marriage as a sacrament and a gift from God. He spoke of couples as the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world,” highlighting the ways in which their love preserves relationships, nurtures families, and shines as a witness to others.

He reminded couples that their names are written in the heart of Jesus and reflected on the joys, sacrifices, and losses experienced throughout married life. The archbishop’s blessing encouraged couples to continue bringing love and kindness to the world around them.

On leaving, couples who had signed up received their certificate, and everyone was given a rose as a reminder of their commitment. The celebration continued in the Gibberd Room, where everyone was invited to enjoy tea, coffee, and cake together.

One attendee shared their appreciation afterwards: “Thank you all. What a beautiful service. The certificate is lovely, the organisation brilliant, and my photographs with the archbishop are lovely. Thank you all so much.”

If you had your photo taken at Mass, Photos from the event are available to view and download here on the Archdiocese of Liverpool Flickr account.