JACKSON – Bishop Joseph Kopacz honored 77 couples who marked special wedding anniversaries this year at a Mass for World Marriage Day. Dovie and Wayne Munlin of Houston Immaculate Heart of Mary, could not attend the Mass, but were remembered for 71 years of marriage. The annual event is sponsored by the Office of Family Ministry.
Including the Munlins, nine couples marked 60 years or more; 31 couples celebrated 50 years or more and 27 couples marked 25 years. A full list of honoress along with more photos is available on the website, www.mississippicatholic.com.
After the Mass, families gathered in the cathedral center for a reception. The idea of celebrating marriage in this way began in Baton Rouge, La., in 1981, when a group encouraged the city’s mayor, the governor of Louisiana and their bishop to proclaim St. Valentines Day as “We Believe in Marriage Day.” The event was so successful, the idea was presented to and adopted by Worldwide Marriage Encounter’s national leadership.
Nina and Pascual Cruz from Batesville St. Mary, 50 years
Linda and David Harcharik from Jackson-St. Peter, 50 years
Kathy and Steve Bizzarri from Jackson, St. Richard, 52 years
Kathleen and Michael Mansour from Greenville, St. Joseph, 25 years
June and Owen Williamson from Vicksburg, St. Paul 65 years
Johnnie and Houston Patton from Jackson Holy Family, 51 years
Jere and Pat Roy from Batesville, St. Mary, 50 years
Jennifer and Christopher David from Meridian, St. Patrick, 25 yearas
Georgeann and Phil Hale from Natchez, St. Mary, 50 yers
Gayle and Francis Prattini from McComb, St. Alphonsus, 50 years
Emma and Dennis Santos from Clinton, Holy Savior, 30 years
Dede and William McCormack from Jackson, St. Peter, 50 years
Chris and Tom Patin from Vicksburg, St. Michael, 50 years
Cathy and Jon Matthews from Pearl, St. Jude, 50 years
Carolyn and Jack Daughtery from Crystal Springs, St. John, 50 years
Belinda and Juan Vargas from Gluckstad, St. Joseph, 25 years
Asuncion and James Cannon from Pearl, St. Jude, 25 years
Ann and Earl Chastant from Flowood, St. Paul, 50 years
Angela and David McNamara from Jackson, St. Richard, 60 years
Anette and Michael Tipton form Grenada, St. Peter, 25 years
Villa and Ildefonso Ibale from Clinton, Holy Savior, 25 years
Teresa and Maxwell Beluso from Clinton, Holy Savior, 25 years
Sharon and Curtis Hopkins from Clinton, Holy Savior, 50 years
Santa Serrano and Guillermo Benitez from Jackson, St. Therese 23 years
Rosemary and Lewis Grantham from Clinton, Holy Savior, 50 years
Pat and Lin Bloodworth from Batesville, St. Mary, 50 years
Navidad and Damian Roman from Jackson, St. Peter, 25 years
Myra and Hugh Logue from Vicksburg, St. Paul 50 years
Missy and Lamar Fisher from Pearl, St -Jude 25 years
Michele and James Orsborn from Jackson, St. Richard, 25 years
Mary Nell and Wayne McMaster from Vicksburg, St. Paul, 60 years
Marie and Willard Garnett from Tupelo, St. James, 65 years
Margret and Joseph Jones from Gluckstadt, St. Joseph, 50 years
Margaret and John McAleese from Flowood, St. Paul, 63 years
Lori and Eric Kimes from Gluckstadt, St. Joseph, 25 years
