Couples married 50 years or more got reserved pews for a Mass honoring them June 22 at St. John Vianney Church. (Photo courtesy of St. John Vianny Parish)
For the past two years in June, St. John Vianney Parish, Kailua, has honored married couples with a special Mass and blessing by pastor Father Peter Miti. This practice was started by the parish’s Marriage and Family Committee, chaired by Thomas Duddy.
This year, couples married 50 years or more were invited to the 5 p.m. Mass on June 22. The 20 couples who responded were seated in a reserved area where they were honored, blessed and given a rousing round of applause.
Speaking after the homily, Duddy praising the couples for keeping their vows made more than 50 years ago to remain together through good times and bad and in sickness and in health. He said they have made the community a better place and our church a better place, and are inspirations to young people contemplating marriage.
After Mass, the group went to the parish lounge for a dinner of baked salmon, a pork entree, mashed Okinawan sweet potato, rice, dinner rolls and an anniversary cake. After the meal the couples enjoyed the games “Name That Tune” and “Guess Cost of Items in the 1950s.”
It was an enjoyable evening, one that the parish plans to repeat for years to come.
