Anniversary Blessing
Milestone anniversary couples renew their marriage vows during the Oct. 6 Bishop’s Anniversary Blessing Mass in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold. Mike Ehrmann photo
Loving as Christ Loved Anniversary couples celebrate the gift of a sacramental marriage BY MARY STADNYK Associate Editor, and
KAYLA LATENDRESSE Correspondent
J
ohn Feeney admitted that he’s no expert in marriage. Then, with a wink and a wry smile, he said, “I’ve only been married once,” to his wife of 50 years, Janice. But really, he said, “If I could just bundle our 50 years together, I would have to say the only thing more precious than time is who you spend it with.” The Feeneys, members of St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish, Spring
Lake, were among the 250 couples from around the Diocese who attended one of the two Bishop’s Anniversary Blessing Masses this year. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., celebrated a Mass Oct. 6 in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, for married couples from Monmouth and Ocean Counties marking one, 25, 50 or more years of marriage this year. He celebrated another Mass Oct. 27 in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, for couples from Burlington and Mercer Counties. The Bishop’s Anniversary Blessing Masses have been a standing favorite in the Diocese, providing couples the opportunity to renew their wedding vows and receive a special blessing from the
Bishop. After the Masses, the couples are invited to receive an individual blessing from one of the priest concelebrants and a certificate marking their milestone. Couples and their families then enjoyed refreshments, music and socializing at receptions. SHEPHERD’S MESSAGE In his homily for each of the two Masses, Bishop O’Connell applied the readings to the couples and their commitment to married life. “Today we celebrate the fact that you decided to get married in the Church because you understand your marriage – you see your marriage as a Sacrament,
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