MACAU (UCAN) -- From the ruins of historic St. Paul's Church, 34 Catholic and non-Catholic couples processed in public to the Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady to renew their marriage vows in a special ceremony.

For Sio Tong-fai and his wife, who this year are celebrating the silver anniversary of their marriage, the renewal of their vows on Oct. 10 was "an impressive memory for our prosaic marriage."

He also said the experience gave them a chance to express their serious commitment in marriage. Their wedding ceremony 25 years ago, Sio recalled, was quite different. "We were told to do this and do that, whatever the elders and the master of ceremonies said we should do. It seemed nothing belonged to us."

The "Wedding Anniversaries Thanksgiving Celebration" in which the 34 couples took part was organized by the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council of Macau diocese and sponsored by the government Social Welfare Institute.

As a territory, Macau in 1999 reverted from Portuguese rule to become a Special Administrative Region of China. According to the Sino-Portuguese agreement, it retains its traditional customs for 50 years thereafter.

Sister Georgiana Li Wan-may, executive secretary of the marriage council, told UCA News on Oct. 12 that the marriage renewal celebration was arranged to help couples "treasure and experience their marriage commitments."

It also was designed, she said, to educate the public on loyal, long-lasting marital relationships. Many participants were non-Catholics, she added, so it also gave them a rare chance to experience being married in a Catholic church.

According to Sister Li, the recent celebration was the second such celebration in Macau, but it may be the last time the council organizes such an event because it would lose meaning if it becomes an annual activity.

Alex Wong Ching-wai and Chiang Kuai-heng, a Catholic couple married 18 years, explained to UCA News it was the second time they had taken part in the event because the romantic atmosphere and experience "deepened our love."

During the Mass, they told the other couples how they had overcome certain difficulties and their marriage grew in the light of God. Wong's mother from Hong Kong and nine-year-old daughter were there to express their support.

Officiating at the opening ceremony in front of the landmark ruins were Father Joao Evangelista Lau Him-sang, representing ailing Bishop Jose Lai Hong-seng of Macau, and top officials of the Social Welfare Institute. The participants, including some Portuguese-Macanese couples, processed for 20 minutes from St. Paul's ruins to the cathedral to repeat their vows at a Mass.

"The couples, especially the men," Sister Li said, "at first were shy about marching along the streets, but they found the route 'too short' at the end."

Sio agreed. He admitted that he was nervous when passersby began to stare at them. "I felt quite embarrassed," he said, "but I was happy when some friends saw us and came over to offer their congratulations."

Sio says, Macau is so small it is easy to bump into a friend along the streets. Only 450,000 people live within its 27.3 square kilometers of land.

Father Lau told UCA News on Oct. 12 that parading before a crowd is a way for couples to witness their respect for marriage. In his homily, the priest cited Church teachings on the everlasting value of marriage. He also presided as each couple formally pledged love and fidelity to one another. After a photo session, the couples enjoyed a candlelight dinner in the open courtyard of an old church on Penha Hill, a popular tourist site.

Sister Li says the major challenges that Macau couples face are extramarital affairs and difficulties arising in parent-child relations. "Poor parent-child relations develop from problematic relations between the parents," she said.

The CMAC was established in 1980. Since then, it has been providing free family education, premarital and family counseling, and Natural Family Planning guidelines to Macau people, regardless of age, sex or religion.