Couples to be celebrated at Masses in September

By Rob Herbst
The Catholic Week
MOBILE —  The Archdiocese of Mobile will once again celebrate milestone wedding anniversaries this September with Masses throughout the archdiocese.
Couples celebrating their first, 10th, 25th, 40th, 50th as well as anything longer than 50th wedding anniversary this year are invited to attend one of four special milestone wedding anniversary Masses. 
Milestone wedding anniversary Masses, an initiative of the Archdiocese of Mobile Office of Evangelization and Family Life, debuted last year as a way to celebrate marriage. According to Janet Masline, associate director of the office, more than 170 couples registered last year.
“They used it as a time to renew their own vows, but it was also a time to connect with friends,” Masline said. “I really enjoyed seeing those couples married 60-plus or 70-plus years come together. A lot of them were holding hands and I could just imagine what their past has been like. It was heartwarming.”
Those seeking to attend one of the Masses in Montgomery, Dothan, Spanish Fort or Theodore are asked to register at mobarch.org/milestone-anniversary at least one week prior to the date of the Mass they’d like to attend, although earlier registrations are appreciated.
Attending couples will receive a blessing and a special certificate. Cake and punch receptions will follow each Mass.
Masline said family members are also encouraged to attend.
“It’s just beautiful to see families come together like that,” she said.
Many of the couples in attendance will have been married for at least 25 years, but Masline said it’s also important to celebrate couples who have been married only one year.
“It is important to celebrate our marriages as much as we can and that first year really is a time of learning,” she said. “They really should be celebrating the fact that they have been married for a year and this is just the first of many milestone wedding celebrations that they'll be having.”