Long-married couples, families and guests crowded into Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral on Saturday, Aug. 16 for the annual Jubilee of Anniversaries Mass.
Approximately 400 people filled the cathedral for the vigil Mass celebrated by Bishop Earl Fernandes along with Father Jan Sullivan, the Cathedral rector.
For the third straight year, the Jubilee was held at St. Joseph Cathedral after moving between several diocesan parishes in previous years. The event was organized by the Office of Marriage and Family under associate director Jason Spoolstra.
The 165 registered couples received certificates signed by Bishop Fernandes commemorating anniversaries of 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60-plus years.
Six couples were celebrating at least 70 years of marriage: Bernard and Jane Paumier (76 years) of Buckeye Lake Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Donald and Suzanne Cruickshank (73 years) of Columbus St. Francis of Assisi Church, Emery and Sylvia Lombardi (72 years) of Columbus St. Andrew Church, James and Rita Marsinek (71 years) of Westerville St. Paul Church and John and Mary Moodie (70 years) of Marion St. Mary Church and Robert and Mary Smithberger (70 years) of Sunbury St. John Neumann Church.
Another 32 couples were recognized for 60 or more years of marriage and 44 couples had reached their 50th anniversary.
Dublin St. Brigid of Kildare Church had the most registrants with 14 and Pickerington St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish followed with 14. Fifty-four parishes were represented.
Some of the older couples sat in the front pews and were assisted by family members. Other couples were accompanied by relatives and friends.
Afterward, couples were invited to have a picture taken in front of the altar with Bishop Fernandes, who remained after Mass to pose with jubilarians. They formed a long line that stretched down the center aisle to wait for photos that will be made available through the diocese’s Office of Marriage and Family website at www.columbuscatholic.org/marriage-family.
In Bishop Fernandes’ homily, he stressed the importance of couples’ witness to their sacramental vocation in a world that increasingly disregards marriage.
“I really want to thank you for saying yes to the call not only to be a disciple but also for responding generously to the call to witness to Christ’s love for His bride, the Church, throughout the many years of your marriage,” Bishop Fernandes continued, “ … and for witnessing to the goods of marriage: children, fidelity, and the sacramental bond, which gives us help during difficulties.”
The bishop acknowledged the many sacrifices — seen and unseen — that husbands and wives make in marriage for each other and for their families but reminded that “they are not unseen by the Lord.”
The principle of sacrifice, the Church teaches, is one key to successful marriages.
Quoting from the old “Exhortation before Marriage,” the bishop said: “Sacrifice is usually difficult and irksome. Only love can make it easy, and perfect love can make it a joy. We are willing to sacrifice in proportion to our love, and when our love is perfect the sacrifice is complete.”
The bishop encouraged couples to remain faithful, keep their eyes fixed on Christ and invite young people to consider “the beautiful vocation of marriage.”
“If we want to have a strong Church, we need strong families,” he said, later adding, “Now is the time, whether you are young or old, to let your light shine so that young couples can find the way that God is calling them.”
