Diocese honors ‘visible signs of God’s love’ at annual prayer service

METUCHEN — “This has become one of my favorite gatherings of the year,” declared Bishop James F. Checchio at the Oct. 27 Silver and Gold Wedding Anniversary Prayer Service at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi. “We thank you for your faithful witness to married love in a world so much in need.”

Bishop Checchio presided at the annual event, which celebrates Catholic marriages of 25, 50 and more years. More than 160 couples filled the front pews of the cathedral, while hundreds of family and friends bore happy witness behind them.

Following a festive procession to the strains of the wedding march “Trumpet Tune in D” by Henry Purcell, hymns, psalms and Scripture, the bishop gave a homily in which he called the couples’ love a “supernatural thing.”

“It is a visible sign of God’s love for us,” he stated. “We see his love and experience it through your commitment to one another. It is your road to heaven.”

The bishop admitted married love was not always easy, but faith in the Lord “helps love get through the challenges of life.”

“The secret to a happy marriage is not seeking your own self-fulfillment but looking for opportunities to give to each other,” he continued. “Inviting the Lord into your life together, no doubt, has benefitted you. Focus your lives on Christ who teaches us the true cost of love. By hearing his voice and responding with renewed faith, your marriage has been built on solid rock, and stood firm for these many years. We thank God for you.”

Cristina D’Averso-Collins, director, diocesan Office of Family Life Ministry, invited the couples to stand and led them in recommitting their wedding vows. As the spouses looked into each other’s eyes, they repeated the words that had united them as one so many years before. The vows were sealed by a kiss as the congregation burst into applause.

Each couple posed for a photo with the bishop and received a certificate and blessing. Later, they shared how their Catholic faith had strengthened their bonds of marriage through the decades.
“Faith has helped us keep going,” declared Maria Hafner of Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Monroe Township, who was celebrating a golden anniversary with her husband, George. “We are very blessed to have three children, our grandchildren and our health.”

Jeanette Wiegartner noted, “Our first date was an Easter Vigil Mass. We are very involved at our parish, [Queenship of Mary, Plainsboro]. We got married there and are still there.” John, her husband of 25 years, added, “Our parents’ faith was also strong and resonated with us.”

 Chris Ryalles of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Three Bridges, credits his wife, Dawn, with keeping faith alive in their marriage of 25 years. “She is so supportive of the Church and raised our children Catholic,” he said.

Carol and Glenn Johnson of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Sayreville, have been married for 50 years and credit their faith as a foundation in that union.

“Religion has played a part in our marriage, especially recently,” Carol said.

“Our pastor, Father Ken [Kenneth R. Murphy] encouraged me to become Catholic, and I completed the RCIA [Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults] program a year ago,” Glenn said.

Silver & Gold Anniversary Celebrants
ALPHA
St. Mary
Lawrence & Renee Creveling 50
John & Marie Hummer 50
James & Sharon Wardlow 50
Rob & Jennifer Anselmo 25
Michael & Melanie Beck 25
Roberto & Lourdes Vergera 25
Joseph & Michelle West 25

ANNANDALE
Immaculate Conception
Raymond & Charlotte Prosics 50
Christopher & Celia Arthur 25
Christopher & Kristen Boyce 25
Scott & Patricia Cooper 25
William & Kim Mensche 25
Doug & Monica Sharp 25

AVENEL
St. Andrew
Paul A. & Ann T. De Paolo 50
Daniel & Kathleen Neroda 50

BASKING RIDGE
St. James
Raymond & Margaret Gsell 50
Matt & Marion Hagovsky 50
Robert & Joan Marino 50
Ralph & Marianne Panzitta 50
Brian & Lenore Convery 25
Glenn & Mary-Pat Marzoli 25
Immac & Virginia Thampoe 25

BELVIDERE
St. Patrick
Frank & Beth Ann Dispoto 25

BERNARDSVILLE
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
David & Jeanne Fantina 25

BLOOMSBURY
Annunciation
William & Kathleen Girton 25

BOUND BROOK
St. Joseph
Esteban Diaz & Ana L. Veron 25
St. Mary of Czestochowa
James & Winifred Gamatko 50
Ryszard & Jolanta Dziedzic 25

BRIDGEWATER
Holy Trinity
John & Elaine Gillen 50
Emilio & Carolyn Suarez 50
St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Patrick & Vivian Cline 50
Andrew R. & Maryann I. Strutzel 50
Joseph & Ann Banz 25
Thomas & Laura Kelly 25
Michael & Christine Macchiarola 25

CALIFON
St. John Neumann
William & Veronica Upwood 25


COLONIA
St. John Vianney
Joseph & Jacqueline Formola 50
Eugene & Madeline Heiser 50+
Egger & Maureen Lugo 50
Antonio & Margarida Cruz 25

EAST BRUNSWICK
St. Bartholomew
Keith & Kathleen Bobash 25
Michael & Patricia Palumbo 25

EDISON
St. Helena
Ricardo & Isabel Yglesias 25
Joseph Cruzdurai & Leela Joseph 25
James & Tina Marie Jasina 25
St. Matthew the Apostle
Anthony & MaryCarole Palmisano 50

FLEMINGTON
St. Magdalen de Pazzi
Thomas & Arlene Costello 25
Adam & Elli Kuras 25
Lamberto Navoa & Maria Paz 25

GREAT MEADOWS
Sts. Peter & Paul
John & Kelli Hourihan 25

HACKETTSTOWN
Assumption of the
Blessed Virgin Mary
Peter & Kelly Bunk 25

HAMPTON
St. Ann
Jeffrey & Theresa Osowski 50

HIGH BRIDGE
St. Joseph
Fred & Carol Loozen 50

HIGHLAND PARK
Transfiguration of the Lord
Thomas & Carol Polito 25

HILLSBOROUGH
Mary, Mother of God
Richard & Judith Famulare 50
Kenneth & Josette Genco 50
Robert B. & Carol A. Luszcz 50
St. Joseph
Frank & Christine Brzyski 50
Louis & Sarah Colucci 50
Alexander & MaryLucille Zarzycki 50
Thomas & Jo-Ann Delasko 50
Anthony & Carolann Guidotti 50
Robert & Paula Loewenstein 50
Joseph Robert & Patricia Matzek 50
Ronald & Laura Ellen Larkowski 25
Mark & Lisa Stevens 25

ISELIN
St. Cecelia
Lawrence & Judith Mraz 50
John & Josephine Padovano 50


JAMESBURG
St. James the Less
Saul & Flor Marina Cubillos 50
Patrick & Patricia Flynn 50
Robert & Cecelia Macchiarola 50

KENDALL PARK
St. Augustine of Canterbury
Carl & Carol Jansen 50
Deacon Denis & Carol Mayer 50
Alexis & Linda Monaco 50
Salvatore & Nancy Piccirollo 50+
Harold & Patricia Barile 25
Joseph & Debra Orokos 25
Ramon & Maridol Viray 25

Martinsville
Blessed Sacrament
Dale and Barbara Hoff 50+
Julio & Maria Farinhas 50
Charles & Elizabeth Schambach 50
Anthony & Elizabeth Szymanski 50
Michael & Margaret Reilly Daly 25
Anthony & Anna Marisa D’Amato 25
Alesandro & Carol Martino 25
George & Beverly Nowakowski 25

Metuchen
Cathedral of St. Francis
of Assisi
Jovencio & Fely Cabanday 50
Anthony & Louise Herber 50
Theodore & Mary Petti 50
Randall & Michelle Beaton 25
Joseph & Wendy Bobko 25
Paul & Doreen Zensky 25
James & Denise Haddad 25
Kevin & Lisa Kenny 25
Mark & Cathleen Santus 25

Middlesex
Our Lady of Mount Virgin
Arthur & Eileen Liming 50
John & Bonita Tietjen 50

Monmouth Junction
St. Cecilia
Lawrence & Anne Presby 50

Monroe Township
Nativity of Our Lord
Robert & Marie Anselmo 50
Joseph & Grace Arieno 50
Joseph Richard & Margherita Caccavo 50
Roger & Katherine Connolly 50
Wayne & Theresa D’Angelo 50
George & Maria Hafner 50
Bruce & Judith Tamarin 50
Nilo & Menchie Natural 25

North Brunswick
Our Lady of Peace
Richard & Arlene Rebeck 50
Andrew & Michele Timm 25

New Brunswick
St. Peter the Apostle
University and Community
Stanton & Dorothy Hubbard Jr. 50
Old Bridge
Most Holy Redeemer
Rosario & Columbia Emilio 25
Alberto Marana & Christine Olona 25
Luis Ariel & Wilmina Mercado 25
St. Ambrose
Anthony & Giulia Calco 25
Joseph & Maria Grande 25
Raymond & Kelly Schmalz 25
Salvatore & Theresa Sgroi 25

St. Thomas the Apostle
Anthony & Christina Aurilia 50+
Ralph & Elizabeth Marantino 50
Michael & Geraldine Martin 50

Piscataway
Our Lady of Fatima
Samuel & Karen Matos 25
St. Frances Cabrini
John R. & Theresa J. Teresak 50+

Perth Amboy
Most Holy Name of Jesus
Delio & Migdalia Bueno 25
Jose & Elsa Duran 25
Ramon & Sofia Garcia 25

Plainsboro
Queenship of Mary
Arsenio & Rosie Ramos 50
Dominic & Deborah Vivona 25
John & Jeanette West 25

Port Murray
St. Theodore
Richard & Michelle Mclellan 25

Port Reading
St. Anthony of Padua
Gary & Maria Poos 25

Raritan Borough
St. Ann
Joseph & Anna Ferrera 50
St. Joseph
Stephen & Karen Minarovich 25

Sayreville
Our Lady of Victories
Michael & Theresa Yetsko 50
Christopher & Lynn Krieger 25
St. Stanislaus
Glenn & Carol Johnson 50

Somerset
St. Matthias
Felix & Philomena Sebastian 50
Stephanus & Hanny Busono 25
Rich & Mary Halecki 25
Robert & Christine Lavelle 25

Somerville
Immaculate Conception
Ted & Joanne Pryll 50
Francis & Barbara Quinn 50
Patrick & Theresa Weber 50


South Amboy
Sacred Heart
Joel & Lucille Bloom 50
Mariusz & Renata Jara 25
St. Mary
Dominick & Lorraine Candito 50+
Anthony & Carol Olivieri 50
Thomas & Rosalie Wudarski 50
Michael & Noreen Kusic 25

South Bound Brook
Our Lady of Mercy
Raymond & Keiko Osborne 50+
Peter & Lorraine Provenzale 50

South Plainfield
Our Lady of Czestochowa
Thomas & Linda Seiz 50
Sacred Heart of Jesus
Donald A. & Elaine M. Bolger 50
Thomas & Irene Donnelly 50
Robert S. & Janet Harrison 50
Ronald & Diane Janus 50
Manuel & Eileen Sanchez 50
Michael & Janet Townley 50
Thomas & AnneMarie Elko 25
Edward & Gloria Inigo 25

South River
Corpus Christi
Michael & Mariann Farrell 25

St. Mary of Ostrabrama
Joseph & Aileen Chadwick 50

Spotswood
Immaculate Conception
Robert & Linda Rosso 50
Clifford & Tracy Balsamo 25

Three Bridges
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Joseph & Geraldine Kaczorek 50
Christopher Ryallis & Dawn Cautillo 25

Washington
St. Joseph
Thomas & Janet Jack 50
James & Barbara McAloon 50

Watchung
St. Mary-Stony Hill
Carl & Therese Moccia 50
Dabid & Judith Touhill 50
Joseph & Nancy Ebler 25

Whitehouse Station
Our Lady of Lourdes
Edward & Kathleen DeStefano 25
Anthony & Barbara Vergona 25

Woodbridge
St. James
Adrian & Christine Marciniak 25
Trevor & Sue Pinto 25