The Sign of a Fact

Dear Friends, Last Saturday at St. Joseph Church in Seattle, Washington, a number of us were privileged to be present at the wedding of Thuc (pronounced Tuck) and Charlie...

Dear Friends, Last Saturday at St. Joseph Church in Seattle, Washington, a number of us were privileged to be present at the wedding of Thuc (pronounced Tuck) and Charlie. It was an event that felt like both the culmination of a journey and the beginning of a brand new adventure.

The wedding was performed by two other members of our Northwest community: transitional deacon Colin Parrish and Father Luan of Portland. Friends from the movement from throughout the region attended the wedding, enlivening the experience.

Thuc and Charlie met in the Seattle School of Community a number of years ago. Charlie is an architect who builds schools; Thuc is a schoolteacher. In their different ways they believe in the risk of education. They have to be tough: Thuc with students who can get unruly, Charlie with contractors who aren’t doing their jobs correctly. But both of them are also kind, compassionate, and curious (and, well, Thuc’s students adore her).


We were struck by the beauty of Deacon Colin's homily at the wedding. He said that the two of them had met because they had been “called out, preferred.” He said that, like all of us, they probably were a little afraid, like a child before a dark room. But this fear is healed, he said, by the knowledge that we are loved, which frees us and enables us to know who were are.


He told Thuc and Charlie that their marriage is a sign of this love, and that while it is personal, it is not private. “Your marriage is for you,” he continued, “but it is not only about you.... Your union is a new reality—a sign of a fact—a fact that becomes enfleshed. You are called to a great love! Make...us filled with jealousy over the beauty of your love.”

At the end of the ceremony I turned to my wife and our eyes met. We smiled knowingly.

Later, at the reception, I was called over to meet the wedding coordinator at the church. She had been so moved by her encounter that she wanted to know more about this group of people who seemed so different, so...unified and joyful.

I did my best to share my experience. Then I went and got another plateful of BBQ.