Caridad and Sotero Ragasa, 68 years married.
By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
At 68 years married, St. Elizabeth, Aiea, parishioners Sotero and Caridad Ragasa were recognized by Worldwide Marriage Encounter as Hawaii’s longest married couple nominated this year for that honor.
Jose Alvior, who with his wife Mary Elizabeth make up the executive team of Hawaii Marriage Encounter, presented the Ragasas with a plaque during the 8 a.m. Mass, Feb. 11, World Marriage Day, at St. Elizabeth Church.
St. Elizabeth pastor, Father Arnold Ortiz, introduced the couple to the congregation during his homily and gave them a blessing.
The couple was also presented with the framed text of their commendation as it was documented in the Congressional Record of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Sotero and Caridad were wed on Nov. 12, 1949, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in downtown Honolulu.
When asked what the secret was of their long and happy marriage, Sotero pointed to his wife and said, “I give her all of the credit.” That, he said, and the rosary she prays daily.
Worldwide Marriage Encounter has conducted an annual search for the longest married couple in the United States for the past eight years. It also names the 50 state winners.
Nominations are made on Marriage Encounter’s national website or by email.
More than 2,400 couples have been nominated for the honors for the last seven years. Winners of the Longest Married Couple project are selected solely from nominations submitted.
The majority of the national winners for the past seven years have been married for 80 years or longer, while state winners usually are 60 to 70 years married.
