By Charlene Bearden
JACKSON – Traditionally, the Diocese celebrates the anniversaries of married couples with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Joseph Kopacz, and a reception on the second Sunday of February at the Cathedral of Saint Peter the Apostle. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the annual diocesan World Marriage Day 2021 celebration was cancelled. The diocese hopes to resume the annual celebration in 2022.
According to World Marriage Day history, the idea of celebrating marriage began in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1981 (40 years ago), when couples encouraged the Mayor, the Governor and the Bishop to proclaim St. Valentine’s Day as “We Believe in Marriage Day.” The event was so successful, the idea was presented to and was adopted by Worldwide Marriage Encounter’s National Leadership.
By 1982, 43 Governors officially proclaimed the day, and celebrations spread to U.S. military bases in several foreign countries. In 1983, the name was changed to “World Marriage Day,” designated to be celebrated each year in February. In 1993, his Holiness, Saint Pope John Paul the II imparted his Apostolic Blessings on World Marriage Day. World Marriage Day celebrations continue to grow and spread to more countries and faith expressions every year.
To honor couples in 2021, the Diocese of Jackson on behalf of the Office of Family Ministry asked parishes to submit the names of couples celebrating their 60th, 50th, 25th or any significant anniversary to the Office of Family Ministry, 82 couples from throughout our diocese submitted their names.
Additionally, each couple will receive by mail at a future date, an anniversary certificate that has been blessed and signed by Bishop Kopacz.
Please join us in celebrating the anniversaries of the following couples:
60 Years
Marie and Irvin Baugh, St. Joseph, Greenville
Dorothy and James Bright, St. Mary Basilica, Natchez
Renate and Sario Caravalho, St. John, Oxford
Marilyn and Ray Hansen, St. Francis, Madison
Carol and Herman Cooper, Holy Savior, Clinton
Iris and Cecil Harrison, St. Richard, Jackson
Shirley and Bert Haydel, St. Alphonsus, McComb
Louise and Duke Mallory, St. Mary Basilica, Natchez
Rose Marie and Joe Portera, St. Joseph, Greenville
Anna and Jerry Roan, St. Jude, Pearl
JoAnne and Tom Zettler. St. Patrick, Meridian
50 Years
Lynne and Raymond Abraham, St. Paul, Vicksburg
Socorro and Charlie Benn, St. Francis, Madison
Rebecca and Tony Bombich, Holy Savior, Clinton
Teresa and Emmett Burns, St. Mary Basilica, Natchez
Maureen and Nicolas Calico, St. Jude, Pearl
Rosie and Bob Conner, St. Patrick, Meridian
Evelyngayle and George Cricenti, St. Francis, Madison
Delanie and Hanson DarDar, St. Alphonsus, McComb
Donna and Lucien Finn, St. Mary Basilica, Natchez
Sheila and Sam Franco, St. John, Oxford
Cheryl and Frank Grove, Holy Savior, Clinton
Linda and Robert Gunther, St. Mary, Iuka
Beth and John Hinkle, St. Joseph, Greenville
Val and Jerry Hosemann, St. Paul, Vicksburg
Joy and Marcel Jojola, St Joseph, Holly Springs
Myra and Pat Kalahar, St. Jude, Pearl
Doris and Jack Kerwin, St. Mary Basilica, Natchez
Pam and Bill Lawhead, St. John, Oxford
Kathy and Johnny Martin, St. John, Oxford
Debbie and Fred Miller, St. Alphonsus, McComb
Jamae and Mike Sellari, Holy Savior, Clinton
Lydia and David Smith, St. John the Baptist, Sardis
Laura and John Valentine, St. John, Oxford
25 Years
Wendy and Alan Blue, St. Alphonsus, McComb
Libby and Chris Callegan, Holy Savior, Clinton
Michelle and Mark Chmielewski, St. Francis, Madison
Sandra and Michael Cirilli, St. Joseph, Greenville
Kelley and Drew Clinton, St. John, Oxford
Joy and Mike Crown, St. Joseph, Greenville
Julie and Stephen Hornaday, St. Francis, Madison
Melodie and Lawrence Deese, St. Mary, Batesville
Schrie and Jack Duthu, St. Joseph, Greenville
Susannah and Wade Heatherly, St. Mary Basilica, Natchez
Michelle and Hayden Kaiser, St. Mary Basilica, Natchez
Christie and Robert Loper, St. Joseph, Greenville
Tara and Kurre Luber, St. John, Oxford
Jennifer and Jerry Myrick, St. Francis, Madison
Christina and David Overton, St. Jude, Pearl
Octavia and Byron Poindexter, Christ the King, Jackson
Connie and Andy Reynolds, St. John, Oxford
Mirna and Alex Robles, St. Mary, Batesville
Ashley and Donald Roesch, St. Paul, Vicksburg
Rachel and Sean Simmons, St. Mary Basilica, Natchez
Delaney and Rob Smith, Holy Savior, Clinton
Beth and Lonnie Stinnett, St. John, Oxford
Paige and Robert Suares, St. Joseph, Greenville
Amy and Brett Tisdale, St. Alphonsus, McComb
Jennifer and Chris Tonos, St. Joseph, Greenville
Heather and Chuck Trost, St. John, Oxford
Katie and Brewer Vaught, St. Joseph, Greenville
VeSheler and Pertis Watts, Christ the King, Jackson
Special Anniversaries
Mary and Alex Balducci, St. John, Oxford, 67 Years
Linda and Joe Boisse, St. John, Oxford, 55 Years
Sierra and Blake Cannon, St. John, Oxford, 10 Years
Carol and James Cooper, St. Francis, Madison
Rosalie and Jack Garner, St. John, Oxford, 55 Years
Debbie and John Gibson, St. Joseph, Gluckstadt, 40 Years
Julia and Tom Graham, St. John, Oxford, 55 Years
Betty and Tom Griffith, St. Patrick, Meridian, 70 Years
Kathleen and Adam Hamilton, St. John, Oxford, 10 Years
Julie and Mike Harkins, Holy Savior, Clinton, 40 Years
Kimmy and Chad Hill, St. John, Oxford, 10 Years
Renee and Robert Hoover, St. John, Oxford, 10 Years
Sallie Ann and Will Inman, St. Francis of Assisi, Madison
Anna and Blake Jeffries, St. John, Oxford, 10 Years
Faye and George Jones, Christ the King, Jackson, 55 Years
Janet and Richard Karsten, St. John, Oxford, 61 Years
Antinette and Fred McFadden, Christ the King, Jackson, 56 Years
Margaret and Dave Moody, St. Francis, Madison
Lacey and Matt Nalker, Holy Savior, Clinton, 30 Years
Carrie and Dennis Ott, St. John, Oxford, 67 Years
Ling and Mathias Romkens, St. John, Oxford, 55 Years
Susan and John Schenk, St. Francis, Madison, 20 Years
Darlene and William Smith, St. Francis, Madison, 63 Years
Vance and Parks Smith, St. John, Oxford, 10 Years
Maria and John Bryant Stewart, Sr., Sacred Heart, Canton 26 years
Ana and Jorge Vidal, St. Francis, Madison, 20 years
Kristen and Jacob Whelan, St. John, Oxford, 10 Years
Selena and Steve Wies, Our Lady of Victories, Cleveland, 30 Years
Sheila and Gary Yeck, St. Joseph, Gluckstadt, 51 years
Julie and Mike Harkins, Holy Savior, Clinton, 40 Years 
Iris and Cecil Harrison, St. Richard, Jackson, 6+0 years 
Kelley and Drew Clinton, St. John, Oxford, 25 years 
Linda and Joe Boisse, St. John, Oxford, 55 Years 
Sandra and Michael Cirilli, St. Joseph, Greenville, 25 Years 
Tara and Kurre Luber, St. John, Oxford, 25 Years 
Lynne and Raymond Abraham, St. Paul, Vicksburg, 50 Years 
Wendy and Alan Blue, St. Alphonsus, McComb, 25 Years 
Lacey and Matt Nalker, Holy Savior, Clinton, 30 Years 
Frank and Cheryl Grove, St. Richard, 50 Years