Married Catholics should cherish their spouse in a way that prompts onlookers to reflect on Jesus’ love for humanity, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge said during a Mass for Marriage Jubilarians at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington Oct. 19.
“Every time I celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage, I point to the couple and say, ‘From this day forward we must be able to look at you and say: Do you see how they love one another? That is the same way Christ loves us, a love that is forever; faithful and life-giving,’ “ Bishop Burbidge said.
He said the congregation represented a combined 8,550 years of marriage.
Organizers said more than 1,000 people attended the Mass, during which 125 silver anniversary and 108 golden anniversary couples renewed their marriage vows before children, grandchildren and other attendees. A reception followed, with cake, of course.
Bishop Burbidge recalled the words of Pope Leo XIV, who encouraged Catholics to live out their faith and vocation with a sense of adventure, joy and zeal.
“Continue this adventure strong in faith, joyful in hope, and constant in your love of God and one another so you many continue live in a manner worthy of the call you have received all the days of your life,” he said.
Jubilee marriage reflections
What advice do marriage veterans have for other married couples?
“Our success as a couple over the last 50 years of marriage has only been made possible through the grace of God’s blessing. Building our marriage on the pillars of mutual respect and communication, we have learned that sometimes the most important thing we can do for each other is to listen — listen to each other and listen to our Lord.
“God is the lens through which we strive to see each other and the rest of the world in everything we do. Through daily prayer, daily Mass, and our shared connection with our Lord, we have been able to build an unmatched intimacy that has made our bond unbreakable.
“One of our key strategies has always been to avoid going to bed upset or angry. We never let the sun set on a disagreement, and it has helped to ensure that we rise every morning with our best foot forward.
“This has been the framework of our marriage, which was inspired by our experience with the Catholic Marriage Encounter Program. This program set the stage for our marriage, and it is a program that we always encourage young couples to pursue because it helped to build a strong foundation for our own marriage.”
- Jacob and Susie Park, married 50 years and parishioners of St. Paul Chung Church in Fairfax
“My wife, Carolyn, is the best thing that has happened to me. I tell her frequently that I ‘lucked out’ in marrying her. Not only is she a beautiful woman and mother of our three wonderful children, she is more importantly a very dedicated Catholic who sets a wonderful example for the rest of us. Her example and deep faith helped our son to listen to the ‘call’ to seek ordination from Jesus Christ, and for our two daughters to have a strong commitment to the Catholic Church. Personally, she has been instrumental in supporting me in my 21-year career in the (U.S.) Air Force and in my 23 years at the U.S. Department of State.”
- Thomas Yehl, married to Carolyn Yehl 50 years, parishioner of St. Timothy Church in Chantilly and father of Fr. Tom Yehl, YA
“Marriage is a gift from God. A sacramental marriage takes five persons — you, your spouse, and the Holy Trinity.
“You need a sense of humor.
“Continue to date your spouse!”
- Betsy and Tim Argauer, married 25 years and parishioners of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Vienna
“Being married for 25 years and raising six children is by far our greatest joy and accomplishment in life! College degrees, running a marathon, hiking the Camino, or great professional accomplishments pale in comparison to the joy of waking each day and working alongside our spouse to deal with life’s challenges and build a happy home.
“Our advice would be to stay close to the Lord and grounded in your Catholic faith. The wisdom of the church will never guide you wrong.
“Be generous in accepting children. Be generous with your time. Be generous in your forgiveness.”
- Kevin and Angie Bohli, married 25 years, parishioners of St. Mary of Sorrows Church in Fairfax
“Nobody sleeps on the couch. That old cliche is a bad policy. You may sometimes go to bed with a disagreement unresolved, but sending somebody to sleep on the couch fosters a divorce mentality. When we disagree, we separate. Instead, when we disagree, we are still together focusing on our love as a gift, an action, not just a feeling.”
- Deacon Mark Voorheis, married to wife, Erin, 25 years and parishioners of St. John the Apostle Church in Leesburg
