America's Largest Catholic Newspaper
On the way inside St. Malachy’s Church-The Actors Chapel for a Mass celebrating the longest- married couples in the archdiocese, a gentleman wearing his Sunday best considerately carried his wife’s purse for her.
Conrado Torres held the purse for his wife of 65 years, Victoria, as the two made their way to their seats near the front of the church. It was a simple gesture of love, but was just one in a long line of such acts.
“He is very supportive and he’s loved me a very long time. He’s always taking care of me,” said Mrs. Torres with a joyful laugh. “He is always very compassionate.”
The Torres’, from St. Ann’s Parish in Yonkers, were one of five couples celebrated as one of the longest-married couples in the archdiocese. Other couples honored at the early-afternoon Mass in the Manhattan church were: Irving and Concetta Lasco, 71 years, Staten Island; Michael and Angelina Vernillo, 70 years, Eastchester; Giuseppe and Concetta Coco, 65 years, Amawalk; and Dan and Sadie Mecca, 65 years, Port Chester.
Nicholas and Ann D’Ambrosio of Yonkers have been married for 75 years, but were unable to attend the Mass. The runners-up, Santo and Jennie Gulla, from the Bronx, are another 75-year couple.
During his homily, Auxiliary Bishop Gerald Walsh, vicar general, said the couples present were a “very good example of fidelity and sacrifice.” He said happy marriages take a husband and wife working together.
Although society would have couples focused on worldly success, Bishop Walsh said, “Faithfulness is success in the world of Jesus.”
He told all the couples, newly married, soon to be married and longest married, “There is nothing you and the Lord cannot solve together.”
All couples renewed their wedding vows during the Mass.
The day’s theme was “Living Authentic Love in a Challenging World.” The archdiocese’s Family Life/Respect Life Office was the sponsor along with Worldwide Marriage Encounter. World Marriage Day is annually celebrated the second Sunday of February. Those gathered at St. Malachy’s were from Worldwide Marriage Encounter, Pre-Cana, Couples for Christ and the Catholic Grandparents Association, among others.
Izabella Nagle, marriage enrichment coordinator, said, “These longest-married couples are a gift to the Church, a beautiful testament to life-long authentic love. They have the wisdom of years that we should recognize, cherish and learn from.”
She added, “The beauty of authentic marital love is not theory, but a truth that is lived and witnessed by these wonderful couples.”
Some 50 couples registered for the Feb. 9 event, which included morning lectures by Bill Donaghy, an instructor and curriculum specialist at the Theology of the Body Institute headquartered in Downingtown, Pa., and Father Louis Leonelli, C.F.R., a retreat leader who assists in coordinating Catholic Underground, an apostolate of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. The day included Eucharistic Adoration, confession and a reception after Mass that included a wedding cake.
Ms. Nagle told CNY that the morning events were added for the first time to support newly married and soon-to-be wed couples. “One fear that has been voiced to us by newly wed or soon-to-be-wed couples is: ‘Are we going to make it?’”
She said, “We realized how important it is to support our engaged and newly married couples by continuing their faith formation, providing them with community, and showing them examples of other couples who are living out their married vocations with joy and love.”
During his hour-long lecture, Donaghy had the crowd laughing as well as seriously pondering the words he related about Blessed Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. Theology of the Body is based on a collection of 129 Wednesday audiences given by the pope between 1979 and 1984 on the body and human sexuality.
Donaghy told those gathered, “St. Augustine 1,600 years ago said the greatest desire of the human heart is to see another and be seen.” He explained that this is a way in which marriage allows us to mirror God. He noted that the vocation of marriage is about relationship and about “your call to get out of your head.”
He said, “Theology of the Body is about presence, about being with” your spouse.
Michael and Maria Ugenti will mark their fifth anniversary next month. They attended World Marriage Day because they previously attended a Marriage Encounter retreat weekend and thought that experience was wonderful. They are parishioners at Holy Child on Staten Island.
“We hope today enhances that,” Mrs. Ugenti said. “Whether you are married five minutes or 50 years there is always room to learn.”
Ugenti added, “You work on marriage each and every day. There are new beginnings and new endings every single day.”
James and Belle Parsons, married for 44 years, offered practical advice for recently married couples.
“Keep the communication open, Mrs. Parsons said. “Always kiss goodnight no matter how much you fought.”
Parsons added, “You have to let your pride go sometimes. Marriage is going to have its ups and downs.”
With three children and 13 grandchildren, Mrs. Parsons said she already has a built-in audience for her marriage advice.
Her husband added, “And we wanted to share with other couples here today.”
