Couples celebrate their marriages at annual diocesan event

Friday, Feb. 21, 2025

HOLLADAY — Fifty-two Catholic couples from across the Diocese of Salt Lake City came together on Feb. 15 at St. Vincent de Paul Parish to honor their commitment to each other at the Annual Diocesan Marriage Celebration & Enrichment.

Many people in the world today do not believe in marriage and do not understand the true value of marriage to the world, Bishop Oscar A. Solis told the couples at the Mass he celebrated that day in honor of the gift of marriage. 

“The love of husband and wife is the force that welds society together,” Bishop Solis said, quoting St. John Chrysostom. “In the Sacrament of Marriage, you find commitment, a promise to love and support one another through life’s adversities and trials. In this manner, couples build a culture of light and love rooted in faith that not only is hard, but that processes in the goodness of God.” 

Referring to the passage in Corinthians on love by Saint Paul, in particular its hope, “This enduring hope is what strengthens. It inspires many couples to face the future with such courage, hope and perseverance,” the bishop said. “The mere fact that you’re present today with your spouses reflects the beauty of marriage and the joy that comes in love. Certainly, according to the theme of this Marriage Week this year, it is a frame of renewable love, because it becomes a source of transformation and continual growth not only of the family, but as well as of our society and the world.”

Before the Mass the couples, who came from Ogden and Helper and many places in between, enjoyed enrichments sessions in English and Spanish on the National Marriage Week theme, “Pursue a Lasting Love.” 

Deacon Tom Devereux and his wife Maria, who gave the enrichment presentation in English, compared marriage to a long hike with 10 stops along the journey. 

This year’s National Marriage Week theme “invites us as married couples or engaged couples, to embark on a path together, a path that brings you closer to each other and ultimately to God,” Deacon Devereux said. “For National Marriage Week 2025 we’re combining the theme of the idea of marriage as a journey, much like a hike. This imagery of a hike reminds us that marriage is not just an event, it’s a dynamic journey, one that’s full of growth.”

As on a hike, a couple’s journey together may not unfold as they expect, Maria Devereux told the couples. “There may be moments of breathtaking views, or a rock in our path, challenges to overcome, moments of despair, and times when doubt creeps in,” she said. “But with faith, we know that God is guiding us through every twist and turn. Together, we walk with a shared vision, trusting that each step, no matter how steep or challenging, is part of a greater journey.”

Throughout the session, couples were given time to interact as they answered a series of thought-provoking questions and shared their answers if they were comfortable doing so. At the end of the session, Deacon Devereux blessed the couples with a special blessing written by Father Langes Silva, the diocesan judicial vicar. 

Deacon Guillermo Méndez and his wife Socorro gave the enrichment presentation in Spanish. With dozens of Hispanic Catholic couples attending, the deacon said they were very happy with the response at the event.

“Celebrating marriage was an opportunity to reinforce the importance of this sacrament,” he said. “In today’s world sometimes couples get together and put aside God’s blessing. For me and Socorro, it was very important to share with the couples that the Sacrament of Marriage is a gift from God.”

Following the Mass the couples gathered in the parish’s Holy Family Hall for dinner and a special toast. Several couples, such as those who had been married the longest, were honored with small gifts. Among them were Clorinda and Vincent Millitello, who have been married for 67 years; and Drs. Richard and Natalie King, who have been married just less than three years. It was the first marriage enrichment for the Kings, who moved to Utah last year. 

“It’s been really nice just to be together and kind of focus on our marriage and be with other couples that have a lot of experience,” Natalie King said. “It’s been great to think back to our wedding and how grateful I am for him.”

Richard King also appreciated the experience. “It’s good to be around so many married couples, especially people who’ve been married so long,” he said. “It’s good to look up to see people married over 50 years in some cases. It’s just inspiring.”