Hundreds of couples were honored during a March 8, 2025, Diocese of Venice celebration of their lasting witness to Sacramental Marriage.
Bishop Frank J. Dewane celebrated a Mass at St. Thomas More Parish in Sarasota recognizing 290 couples, who were celebrating a combined 14,386 years of marriage, for their accomplishment which brings hope to their families, to the community, to society and to the Universal Church.
The Bishop described the couples, married 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50+ years, as both radical and countercultural, but also a true inspiration for others to follow and emulate.
“This is a joyous occasion in the Diocese as we celebrate your commitment to the Sacrament you have lived in your life and in glory and praise of God,” Bishop Dewane said. “The Sacrament of Marriage is often challenged, but we take confidence in that you are living witnesses of hope to your children and grandchildren, and the goodness you are for our society today.”
Bishop Dewane called upon the couples to continue to live the fullness of their life together, using the grace the Lord has bestowed upon them, and guided by the Holy Spirit as they continue to live out the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.
The 290 couples present for the Mass were from 42 Parishes and included 41 couples who have been married for 50 years. Of those couples, Gregory and Mary Wacha, of Incarnation Parish in Sarasota, celebrated their 50th on the day of the Mass, and Ray and Mary Bloomfield of Epiphany Cathedral in Venice, celebrated their 45th..
The couple recognized as being present with the longest marriage was George and Joan Wark, who will celebrate 73 years on December 12. They were married in Elkton, Maryland, and attend St. Patrick Parish in Sarasota. They say the secret to a good marriage is “patience, trying to look at things from your spouse’s side, being happy with what you have, and sharing with others.”
Other couples recognized during the Mass were Joseph & Ethna Fischetti, 72 years, from St. Martha Parish in Sarasota; Carl and Natalie Pensak, 72 years, from Epiphany Cathedral; Marvin and Carol Peschel, 72 years, from St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, Port Charlotte; Kenneth and Jane Graham, 70 years, from St. Bernard Parish in Holmes Beach; and Robert and Marie Wyatt of St. Mary, Star of the Sea Parish in Longboat Key.
During the Mass, the married couples renewed their wedding vows. In addition, for their participation, each couple was presented with a commemorative certificate, signed by the Bishop, for their enduring commitment to marriage. A reception followed the Mass with lunch and the opportunity to have a photo taken with the Bishop.
Masses are celebrated each year in the northern and southern sections of the Diocese of Venice to accommodate the large number of couples wanting to attend. The first Mass this year was Feb. 1 at St. Leo the Great Parish in Bonita Springs, bringing together 245 couples representing a combined 12,068 years of marriage.
Happy Anniversary to the happy couples!
To celebrate significant wedding anniversaries, Bishop Frank J. Dewane invites couples married 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50+ years to a Mass in their honor. Two Masses are celebrated each year in the Diocese of Venice so as to accommodate those wanting to attend. The first in 2020 was Feb. 1 at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice and a second will be 11 a.m., Feb. 29 at St. Leo the Great Parish in Bonita Springs. (Registration is through your Parish.)
There were 317 couples present – married a combined 16,591 years – with eight celebrating 70 or more years of marriage. The longest married couple was Donald and Nonna Rassier of Epiphany Cathedral. On Oct. 2, 2020, they will celebrate their 72 years together.
