Jubilee anniversary Mass for couples offered by Bishop Jugis
CHARLOTTE — “Christian married couples are signs of God’s love,” Bishop Peter Jugis told dozens of married couples during a special Mass offered in their honor Oct. 18. “You are God’s masterpiece.”
Couples from across the Diocese of Charlotte who are marking their silver or golden wedding anniversary this year renewed their marriage vows at the annual Mass, celebrated this year at St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte.
Bishop Jugis noted that this year the celebration of marriage and family life is receiving greater emphasis because of the ongoing Synod of Bishops in Rome and the recent conclusion of the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. Why? Because it is important to highlight the special mission of Christian married couples and families, he said.
In essence, he said, “the vocation of marriage and family is love.” Christian married couples are called to share the love of God with others, both in the Church and in the broader world, he said.
Quoting from Pope Francis, Bishop Jugis noted, “Christians do not marry only for themselves. The Christian marriage is different from those who marry only in the secular order; Christian marriage is not a private affair, he says. Christians marry in the Lord for the benefit of the whole community of the Church and also for the benefit of all of society. What he means by that is that Christian married couples are signs of God’s love.
“People in society may be following a purely secular mindset, marrying for various reasons … but Christian marriage is different: as a sign of God’s love, meant to bring life to the Church by their love and by the children that they bring into the world and raise in the faith.”
“Christian married couples are meant to share the love and peace that they experience in their marriage with everyone they meet.”
Christian families thus help build up the Church and society, he said.
“Christian married couples, our Holy Father likes to say, are missionaries of Christ’s love – enriching the community of the Church and enriching the broader secular society.
“You bring the presence of Christ to others.”
Rick and Sayenoh Mensah of Our Lady of Consolation Church in Charlotte are celebrating their silver wedding anniversary this year.Pope Francis also describes marriage between man and woman as “God’s masterpiece” – the supreme achievement of all His Creation, Bishop Jugis continued. God created the entire universe, lastly creating man and woman in His image to live together in love and unity. Jesus Christ affirmed and blessed the sanctity of marriage, elevating it to a sacrament, he added.
Bishop Jugis cautioned the couples not to let disunity or mistrust come between them.
“Beware of the devil. He is very jealous of you. He is jealous of the peace and the harmony and the mutual respect of Christian marriage and family,” he said. The Book of Genesis not only describes God’s creation of the world and of man and woman, he said, it also describes how the devil tempts the couple into falling away from God.
“He introduced mistrust and suspicion into their relationship, to destroy the beautiful masterpiece that God created,” he said. “And it has been like that from the beginning. The only remedy, as we all know, is Jesus and His saving grace.”
Among the couples celebrating their 25th anniversary were Rick and Sayenoh Mensah of Our Lady of Consolation Church in Charlotte. Their advice for a happy marriage? “Keep Christ at the center of your relationship,” Mrs. Mensah said.
Trusting each other is also key, said Vince and Alice Lombardo of Our Lady of the Annunciation Church in Albemarle, who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Sept. 24. That, and never letting disagreements go on too long, they added.
“May the love of Christ continue to shine brightly on your marriage,” Bishop Jugis told the couples. “This is your vocation and this is your mission in the Church and in the world: sharing the love of Christ which you have come to experience in each other. May God’s blessing remain with you and with your families.”
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor