'Mystically betrothed': Three women 'marry Jesus' and vow lifelong virginity in Detroit wedding ceremony

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Three women were 'married to Jesus' and made promises of lifelong chastity, becoming the first consecrated virgins in the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Laurie Malashanko, 41, Karen Ervin, 42, and Theresa Jordan, 40, all wore white dresses, received rings and said vows at the ceremony at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit, Michigan.

The three women are not nuns and have not joined a religious order. They will continue to work regular jobs and support themselves financially. 

Their vows are a commitment to chastity and to give themselves fully to Christ. According to Catholic canon law, they are now 'mystically betrothed to Christ'.

Karen Marie Ervin, 42, left, Theresa Anne Jordan, 40, center, and Laurie Beth Malashanko, 41, right, recite during their Consecration of Virgins ceremony. The three women were 'married to Jesus' and made promises of lifelong chastity, becoming the first consecrated virgins in the Archdiocese of Detroit

Archbishop of Detroit Allen Vigneron says a prayer for Malashanko, Jordan and Ervin as the women lay prostrate during the ceremony

Vigneron places a veil over Ervin during the ceremony. Vigneron gave each woman a ring, put veils over their heads and gave them each a prayer book

'I felt like it was an opportunity to take my relationship with Christ one step further,' Jordan told the Detroit Free Press.

'The focus is on how to be in the world, but not be of it, and (having) this understanding of your role as a bride of Christ, and reflecting your love of Jesus to the world,' Ervin said.

Like any other wedding, the cathedral was full of guests and the mass began like any other Catholic mass before the consecration rite was started on June 24.

All three women carried oil lamps as they walked down the aisle and as the Litany of the Saints was recited, the brides lay prostrate.

After that, Archbishop Allen Vigneron gave each woman her ring. He put veils over their heads and gave them each a prayer book.

Then all three women sang 'I am a spouse to Him, whom the angels serve; sun and moon stand in wonder at His glory' and the congregation clapped for them.

'I was very happy, very elated to be wedded to Christ,' Jordan said. 'I felt aligned with his virginity, his purity and all of his sufferings.

'To be mystically espoused to him, it was very joyful.'

At the end of the ceremony, Ervin, Jordan and Malashanko sang 'I am a spouse to Him, whom the angels serve; sun and moon stand in wonder at His glory' and the congregation clapped for them

Like any other wedding, the cathedral was full of guests and the mass began like any other Catholic mass before the consecration rite was started on June 24

Unlike nuns, the three women are not part of a religious order. They will continue to work regular jobs and financially support themselves, while being steadfastly dedicated to serving the church

The ceremony came after years of prayer and discernment. All three women were mentored by Susan Cummins, who was consecrated in 2002.

All three women felt called to religious life, but only recently learned of the consecrated virgins. 

Ervin, the principal of a private Catholic girls' school, said she first felt called to religious life as a child. 

Malashanko, who works for a publishing company, also had a calling. But she didn't feel like she needed the structure of a religious community.  

Jordan learned about the consecrated virgins in 2013. She works as a French teacher and in the registrar's office at Marygrove College.

All three women have been meeting together every six weeks for the past few years to pray and talk about the vocation of being a consecrated virgin. 

They also met with priests and the Auxiliary Bishop.

Eventually, the women submitted character references, a biography and a statement of intent to Archbishop Vigneron.

'It's not a vocation you can just 1-2-3 get into,' Jordan said. 'It takes a lot of formation, study and prayer.'

Malashanko, Ervin and Jordan held their consecration ceremony at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pictured, in late June

Ervin, Malashanko and Jordan each had one-on-one interviews with Vigneron last September where he accepted them for consecration.

That's when the women set the date for their wedding.

Though some people are critical of the consecration, Jordan said she views it as a gift. 

'In today's society, virginity is often criticized, it's made fun of,' Jordan said.

'To be in this world where there's a lot of sexual immorality and perversion, this is a great task set before me, but it's one I look forward to overcoming, and helping others learn about the beauty of virginity and chastity in this world.'

There are about 250 consecrated virgins in the US and 4,000 worldwide, according to Judith Stegman, the president of the United States Association of Consecrated Virgins.