Couples from The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington gathered at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to celebrate their marriages with a liturgy on Aug. 20.
Cardinal Wilton Gregory celebrated the first annual Archdiocesan Mass for Married Couples, which recognized the accomplishments of couples in archdiocesan parishes. During his homily, the cardinal spoke on growth married couples experience as they progress in their relationships.
“For these many years, some lengthier than others, you have come to know the great complexity of true love, you have come to understand its meaning and shared its blessings far more deeply than you may have envisioned on the day of your wedding,” Cardinal Gregory said.
Cardinal Gregory went on to discuss the power and complexity of such relationships.
“There is still so much more for you to discover, for love is an inexhaustible gift that continues to deepen the more that it is shared…love is an unfathomable reality that continues to confound and bless those that are brave enough to probe its mystery,” the cardinal said.
After Communion, Cardinal Gregory blessed the married couples. Following the Mass, the Catholic Standard interviewed a few of the couples being honored.
Eddie and Doris Sullivan of Our Lady, Queen of Peace Parish in Washington, D.C., were recognized for celebrating their 71st wedding anniversary. The couple met in Greenville, South Carolina, two years before they married.
When asked about the secret to longevity in marriage, Doris Sullivan said, “We try to accommodate each other, and we listen and if we don’t agree, we finally will.”
The Sullivans married in St. Joseph Church in Largo’s former location in Glenarden, Maryland. They are parents of three children.
Michelle and John Webster are members of the St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Silver Spring, Maryland. They met 36 years ago in Boston, while John was a student at MIT and Michelle was a student at Northeastern, and they were married at St. Peter’s Parish in Olney, Maryland.
The couple, who have two children, discussed the core values they believe are required to sustain a marriage. Michelle Webster mentioned "forgiveness," and John Webster suggested "centering the marriage on Christ."
When faced with making tough decisions, John Webster said, “Pray, pray together as a couple.”
“It’s beautiful when you allow God to work in the marriage, it becomes more rich and beautiful,” Michelle Webster said.
James Yankay and Claire Garvin of Holy Rosary Parish in Washington, D.C., have been married five years—and are excited to welcome their first child together soon, as Claire is expecting.
“ETA is less than two weeks away, so I was hoping we would be able to make it today, and he was able to wait long enough to let us go,” Garvin said.
After being set up by a friend (who knew both parties were Catholic), their first date was at Jazz in the Sculpture Garden and their second date was going to Mass together at St. Mary’s.
“Because of our Catholic upbringings, we have a shared sense of morality and justice, and the deep overriding things,” Yankay said when asked about how Catholicism impacted their relationship.
Now, both Yankay and Garvin regularly attend Mass in Italian at Holy Rosary Church, as Yankay is Italian and Garvin studied and speaks Italian.
Yankay and Garvin have embraced the community of their parish, as they are both Eucharistic Ministers; Yankay is a catechist as well and Garvin is on the liturgical council.
“Having a shared faith tradition and both appreciating the traditions that go along with that is something that has helped us be happily aligned,” Garvin said.
