“For us it was a direct gift from heaven because we didn’t want a big celebration; the family wanted a big celebration but we wanted just a small little celebration,” said Deanna, 73. “We wanted to spend the money that we would have on a big celebration by donating it to the church which we did. Then we saw this marriage Sunday on our day and we thought this is a gift given from heaven.”
On Feb. 9 the Andrews, parishioners of Toronto’s Franciscan Church of St. Bonaventure, travelled to St. Paul’s Basilica in downtown Toronto to attend a special World Marriage Day Mass celebrated by Cardinal Thomas Collins.
The Andrews joined about 800 other parishioners from across the archdiocese of Toronto who packed the pews and paid homage to the sacrament of marriage, something the cardinal sees as increasingly important as about 40 per cent of Canadian marriages end in divorce.
“You are the salt of the earth,” he told the couples in attendance. “We need to keep that purification that comes from salt. The most magnificent way that that is done day by day is in the sacrament of marriage.”
As the Mass began Collins invited the married couples to renew their wedding vows. Then before everything drew to a close couples celebrating a milestone anniversary this year — 25, 40, 50 and 60 plus — were invited to the front of the church to have their photo taken with Collins before retiring to the parish hall for refreshments.
Through marriage those joined together in the holy bond are combating the “secular tide that dissolves the great profound realities such as the gift of marriage,” said the cardinal.
“By your living of this glorious sacrament of marriage you are evangelizing our secular culture which does not value the magnificent gift which you celebrate.”
Being able to share their golden anniversary celebration with such a large group made marking a half century together special for the Andrews.
“I was so very very proud to see so many couples, married couples, who are celebrating their 25th, 40th, 50th and 60 plus,” said Victor, 82. “We had the cardinal come and bless us which is a great privilege to be able to receive that. It is a great honour for me.”