Couples married 50+ years honored at Masses

Hundreds of friends and family also at four liturgies

By Dan Russo

Witness Editor

DUBUQUE — Couples who have been married 50 years or more were honored recently during Masses at four churches around the archdiocese. Archbishop Michael Jackels concelebrated the liturgies with local priests. The archdiocese has been organizing these Masses of thanksgiving semi-annually for many years.

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“It’s really a celebration of the gift of marriage that we experience through these couples,” said Linda Manternach, director of the Archdiocesan Office of Family Life.

This year’s Masses took place at Holy Family/St. Gabriel in Reinbeck on Aug. 6, Immmaculate Conception in Charles City on Aug. 7, the Cathedral of St. Raphael in Dubuque on Aug. 13 and St. Ludmila in Cedar Rapids on Aug. 14. “We had 250 c0uples,” said Father Ken Glaser, pastor of St. Ludmila Parish.

“There was one couple married over 70 years. What a great witness to the vocation of marriage.”

Receptions for the couples and their loved ones were held after each of the Masses. At St. Gabriel in Reinbeck, about 180 people indicated they were coming in advance; at Immaculate Conception, Charles City, 307 people sent in an RSVP, at St. Raphael in Dubuque the number was 658 people and at St. Ludmila the advanced count was 481, according to the Office of Family Life.

The office offers many programs to help support marriages and families, including marriage enrichment activities, marriage preparation programs, counseling through Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque and other initiatives. For more information, visit www.dbqarch.org/offices/family-life or call (563)-556-2580.

PHOTO: Archbishop Michael Jackels (center) and Father David Kucera (right) celebrated Mass Aug. 6 at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, Reinbeck, with the assistance of Deacon John Schwennen and servers Andrew Cox and Drew Sonnenberg. This is one of four 50-plus anniversary Masses that the archbishop celebrated throughout the archdiocese. (Contributed photos)

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