By FFWPU Dominican Republic
On July 23rd, 2023, on the day to start special 40 days of devotion and witnessing in preparation to celebrate the 11th anniversary of the Holy Ascension of True Father into the spiritual world, our Heavenly Tribal Messiah Department conducted a blessing ceremony with the participation of 40 people and 8 couples. This event was held at our training center, the Armonía y Paz Farm (harmony, and peace farm) of the holy community of the Dominican Republic.
The event began with the opening words of the master of ceremonies, Mr. Bernardo Cruz, the national leader of the Dominican Republic. Then we had an invocation by the pastor of the evangelical church Jesus Peralta. Rev. Leonidas Belliard, director of subregion 5 of the Heavenly Caribbean, gave the welcoming remarks. Right after that, Mr. Cesar Regalado secretary general of the UPF, spoke about the value and meaning of the blessing entitled model couple and ideal family.
After these preparation words, the national leader of the Dominican Republic, Mr. Bernardo Cruz, speaking about the blessing ceremony, explained that Pastor Jesus Peralta has been promoting the blessing ceremony since 2019. And on numerous occasions, he expressed his great desire to receive the blessing, and that day that desire was realized through God’s miracle, and the pastor was very happy and grateful to True Parents to receive this holy blessing of marriage.
The blessing ceremony was officiated by Rev. Pascuale Lai and his wife Yoko Kikuchi. They officiated the blessing with a parental heart representing our True Parents, embracing all the participants. The attending couples were Mr. Salvador Castillo and his wife Marlete Rodrígues, and Mr. Rodolfo Espinosa and his wife Arisleida Hiraldo. The blessing ceremony, followed all the steps, such as the holy wine ceremony, holy water ceremony, blessing vows, blessing prayer, and blessing proclamation. After the blessing ceremony, we also held the indemnity stick ceremony for all the couples who received the blessing. All the blessing participants went through all the steps with gratefully and joyfully.
The blessing ceremony concluded with a congratulatory song by Mr. Cesar Regalado. In gratitude to the officiators, Pastor Jesus, and his wife on behalf of the 8 participating couples offered two bouquets of flowers to the officiators. The words of congratulations were given by the director of the Heavenly Tribal Messiah department in the Dominican Republic, Mr. Cándido Gómez. Healso gave a lecture entitled the meaning of the Family, with a panoramic view of the whole divine principle highlighting the mission of True Parents as messiahs of the Second Coming.
To conclude our event, the family festival of peace, all the participants shared a very joyful atmosphere of having a nice lunch. We will continue the Family Festival in our nation and bring all the people of this nation back to God and True Parents, through True Parents words of life and blessing, on the way to the substantial national restoration of the Dominican Republic. In the meantime we will follow up with all the blessed couples, helping them through True Parents teaching.
