Cardinal Tobin blesses 125 couples celebrating 50 years of marriage in ‘golden’ celebration of love
Approximately 125 couples celebrating at least 50 years of marriage were blessed by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, at the Archdiocese of Newark’s annual Golden Anniversary Mass on Sunday, June 2, in Newark’s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
The spouses — who traveled from throughout Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union counties to attend the Mass — held each other’s wedding rings as Cardinal Tobin asked God to sanctify their love, praying that the husbands and wives grow in the sacrament of matrimony’s grace. The cardinal also commended the fidelity of those present, calling them inspirations to all Catholics who should be similarly committed to the Eucharist.
“You jubilarians remind us… of saying ‘yes’ [to Jesus] and finding a way to sustain our love even when the love isn’t always apparent,” Cardinal Tobin said in his homily.
After the Mass, Cardinal Tobin met with each couple to personally congratulate them on their milestone anniversaries. He also presented them with gold pins depicting interlocked wedding rings in front of a cross — a symbol that Christ is at the center of every strong marriage. The spouses received a certificate acknowledging their half-century of matrimonial faithfulness, as well.
“This Mass is always special because it gives us a chance to celebrate men and women who chose to come together as one before God,” said Brian Caldwell, director of the archdiocesan Office for Family Life Ministry, which organized the Golden Anniversary Mass. “These couples are examples to everyone because they show what happens when you put faith at the center of your marriage. Their trust in God got them through the difficult times, and that’s very encouraging.”
The Golden Anniversary Mass was certainly a joyful moment for the participating spouses, who visibly relished the opportunity to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversaries in the Cathedral Basilica. Many of the couples filled the pews with their family and friends, while others excitedly regaled Cardinal Tobin with stories of their marriages. Several women even wore their wedding veils as a testament to their long-lasting love.
For Marie and Thomas Johnson, the liturgy was an opportunity to give thanks to the Lord for all the blessings He has given their family. The Park Ridge couple, who is active in Our Lady of Mercy Church, said their Catholic faith has played an “extremely important” role in sustaining their marriage through the decades. So they felt attending the Golden Anniversary Mass was the perfect way to commemorate 50 years together.
“We’re grateful to the Archdiocese for recognizing this milestone anniversary and for acknowledging the importance of the sacrament of marriage,” said Marie Johnson, who taught third grade at Our Lady of Mercy Academy until her retirement. “The secret to a long marriage is love; patience; understanding; and above all, faith in the Lord. That’s what has helped us, and we’re happy to be here to celebrate that.”
The Office for Family Life Ministry strengthens families’ faith by hosting programs, providing ministry support training for parishes, and offering other spiritual initiatives. For more information, visit www.rcan.org/family-life/.
Featured image: Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin presents a couple celebrating 50 years of marriage with a blessed gold pin after the Archdiocese of Newark’s annual Golden Anniversary Mass in Newark’s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart on June 2, 2024. (Photo by Archdiocese of Newark/Sean Quinn)
