Couples celebrating anniversaries of 25 years, 50 years, or 51 or more years of marriage were invited to register and participate. There were 278 couples present, representing 53 of our parishes. This included Bill and Janet Swengros who celebrate their 73rd anniversary this year– the longest married couple present at the Mass. In total, over 14,000 years of marriage were represented.

Of those in attendance, 48 couples celebrated 25 years, 67 couples celebrated 50 years, 103 couples celebrated 51-59 years, 53 couples celebrated 60-70 years, and seven couples celebrated more than 70 years of marriage.  

“A faithful marriage enriches the lives around it and quietly makes present the presence of God in our world today,” said Bishop Gregory Parkes in his homily. “In a world where promises seem to be easily broken and commitments are often temporary, your marriages have helped to preserve something very special – the belief that forming a lifelong covenant of love is possible, that fidelity matters, and that vows are meant to endure.”

During the Mass, couples have the opportunity to not only pray with each other and receive the Eucharist, but also to renew their marriage commitment. As the couples faced each other and spoke the words of renewal, many were moved to tears, showcasing that their love continues to run deep even after decades of marriage.  

A unique element this year took place during the presentation of the gifts. Two sisters and their husbands brought forward the gifts during the Mass. The sisters were married in the same year and are each celebrating their 25th wedding anniversaries.

Throughout his homily, Bishop Parkes expressed gratitude for the couples and emphasized the importance of relying on the Lord within marriage.

“No marriage endures because two people are perfect. It endures because two imperfect people allow God's grace to sustain what they cannot manage alone,” he said. “The witness of your marriage, ultimately, points beyond you. It points to the God who is faithful when we are tired, patient when we are slow to learn, and merciful when we fall short. Marriage is a vocation, not just a relationship. It's a path to holiness that you walk together. The same Lord who called you together continues to walk with you and beside you on your journey through life, the same grace that has sustained your marriage all these years will sustain it tomorrow. So today, we give thanks.”

Each year, National Marriage Week takes place the week leading up to Valentine’s Day, with World Marriage Day celebrated on the second Sunday of February. The week focuses on supporting and promoting sacramental marriage and the family. This year’s theme is “Together with Purpose.”  

As Bishop Parkes shared, “Your fidelity has been a quiet proclamation of the gospel to your children, grandchildren, friends, parish, communities, and even to those who you don't know, but who observed your patience, forgiveness, and perseverance. We thank God for the light that your marriages have been in times and in a world that often feels dark, and we pray that your love will continue to shine, not for your own glory, but so that others, seeing your faithfulness may give glory to our Father in heaven.”

For more information about the Office of Marriage and Family Life, click here.

For more information about National Marriage Week, click here.

To view photos from the event, click the arrows below.