PROVIDENCE— The Diocese of Providence hosted a wedding anniversary celebration at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul Sunday, Oct. 26.
The day’s events for couples commemorating milestone anniversaries began with Mass celebrated by Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., which included a renewal of marriage vows.
The couple with one of the longest marriages was John and Barbara D’Arezzo, who have been married for 74 years. Parishioners of Sacred Heart parish in West Warwick, John and Barbara have been married since 1951. Yet, their relationship goes back much further. The two were childhood sweethearts who met while both were attending Roger Williams Junior High School in South Providence.
“We were in the same homeroom,” John remembered fondly. “I went in, and the teacher was introducing everyone, and she said, ‘This is Barbara, and she is our class treasurer.’ … And I’m sitting next to this girl, and I said to her, ‘I’m going to marry that girl.’”
“And he did,” Barbara said.
Over the course of their marriage, John and Barbara had 4 children, 22 grandchildren, with two more on the way.
When asked what the key to a long and happy marriage is, Barbara responded with one word: “Patience.”
“If you’re patient with each other, you can solve all the problems,” she continued.
Deacon Robert Troia and his wife Arlene have been married since 1965. Deacon Troia, who currently serves at St. Rocco’s parish in Johnston, noted that a relationship with God is the key to a successful marriage.
“Stay close to God,” said Deacon Troia. “Understand, forgive [and] take everybody for who they are, listen…give them the chance to voice their opinion, not being domineering.”
“It’s 100 %, not 50-50,” said Arlene, adding that marriage only works when both spouses commit themselves entirely to one another. “We stay close. We take time together. We have a date night one night a week. We stay close to our children.”
“God is the center,” Arlene continued. “He’s the center of our life. If you don’t have faith, it’s like an empty vessel.”
“You have to listen to each other, and have respect,” said Cliff Esposito of St. Rocco’s Parish, Johnston. Cliff and his wife, Ann, have been married since 1968.
In his homily during Mass, Bishop Lewandowski noted that the self-giving love that defines the married life is one of the greatest reflections of Christ’s love for the human race.
“When I look at you today, in the living of your Sacrament of Marriage, I see tremendous beauty. I see a challenge as well, because many of us in the Church find it hard to live like you do, and you challenge us, and encourage us, and urge us onward,” Bishop Lewandowski said.
A total of 205 couples from 75 different parishes took part in the Mass. Of these, 31 were celebrating 25-year anniversaries, 33 were celebrating 40-year anniversaries, 57 were celebrating 50-year anniversaries, and 75 were celebrating over 50-year anniversaries.
