Happy Anniversary!
Love is in the air! No matter where we go, we see red hearts, red roses, and lots of chocolates for sale in preparation for Valentine’s Day. February is a month when love and romance take front and center.
At St. Thomas Aquinas, we will honor many of our parishioners who have been married 50 or more years at the 12noon Mass on Sunday. I polled some of our couples asking, what does it take to create a lasting marriage? Here is what they said:
Faith and forgiveness.
Cheryl and Dennis Fitzgerald
A long and lasting marriage is created by committing to it when agreeing to marry and believing in it through good and bad. Two-way communication at all times is a key ingredient.
Rochelle and Bob O’Hagan
My grandmother told us we'd need a good sense of humor. She was right!
Bonnie and Bob Luxton
We learned about the beauty of marriage from two very dear couples who were 20 years older than us … one couple taught us bridge, and one taught us rook. We played those games together and had fun conversations, always laughing … We realized that their marriages were strong because they were very giving to family and friends. These couples did everything unselfishly together, and now in old age they (and now we) still look forward to doing things together, whether it be watching TV, going to lunch, visiting friends and family, etc.
Mary Ann and Tom Pacer
Courage, flexibility, and selflessness.
Sharon and John Morgenstern
Our long and lasting marriage can be attributed to love of Christ in our lives, each other, and our children. Secondarily comes patience, trust, understanding of different views, having the same beliefs in life issues, and supporting each other through good times and rough times.
Nancy & Bob Volz
Respect … persistence through thick and thin.
Barbara and Rod Ingebretsen
Laughter and faith. It’s not 50-50. It’s 100% both ways. You’ve got to have the patience to love, honor and respect each other.
Linda and Tom Lattanzio
A shared faith is very important. … Seeing that your children are raised within the faith. … An understanding in times of crisis. … It’s constant adjustment, from dating to marriage to children to educating children to being empty nesters to retirement.
Carol and Urban Rump
Being able to step away from an argument not having to be right all the time.
Sheila and Don Nadeau
The first words that came to our minds were patience and forgiveness but communication is impt too. Our relationship was strengthened by sharing a faith walk—supported by a loving community, years of adult classes together (since 1981) and being active in some of the same ministries.
Jim and Lori Rausch
We give thanks for all these who by their covenantal love witness the power of the love of God.