SAN DIEGO — Some couples had been married for more than 65 years. Some for less than one year. They all crowded into the pews to acknowledge their marriage before God, to renew their wedding vows and to celebrate their union.
The diocese’s fifth annual Marriage Anniversary Mass on Feb. 15 returned to its roots at Good Shepherd Church, where the Office for Family Life and Spirituality had held the inaugural celebration outdoors in 2021 during the pandemic. It’s one of the events the office organizes year-round to strengthen marriage.
“Today, our diocese celebrates love, celebrates hope, celebrates the vocation of marriage,” said Auxiliary Bishop Felipe Pulido, near the start of the Mass. “What a powerful way to say that ‘our marriage is good’ and ‘our marriage is beautiful.’”
The Mass featured readings, prayers and songs in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Tagalog, reflecting the rich diversity in the diocese.
Many couples brought family members. One of them was the family of Teresa and Carlos Javier Chávez, who were celebrating their 50th anniversary, said their granddaughter, Camila Chávez.
The couple was accompanied by Teresa Chávez’s brother and his wife, Salvador and Rosalía González, also celebrating their 50th anniversary. The children of the González family, in turn, brought their spouses, Omar and Andrea González, who have been married five years, and Adriana González Mota and Arturo Mota, married for 10.
The families are members of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and St. Charles parishes in South Bay.
“We came today to celebrate four distinct marriages,” said Camila Chávez smiling, as she organized the couples, their children and grandchildren for photos of the memorable day.
Afterward, the couples and their families jammed into the parish hall for a reception, complete with tamales, egg rolls, chicken wings and wedding cake.
And they could stop by ministry resource tables promoting marriage-enrichment opportunities available through parishes and the diocese year-round. In particular, couples who were civilly married were invited to explore whether God might be calling them to receive the sacrament of Holy Matrimony.
Don and Mary Wagner, of Good Shepherd Parish, were celebrating 55 years of being married.
Why has their marriage lasted?
“The Lord,” she quickly answered.
Then he said, “Patience and love.”
