Years of Wedded Bliss Celebrated

Secrets revealed to lasting marriage

John and Marion Lutz have four children, thirteen grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren, so many, the family ran out of names and started using numbers.

The most impressive number for the Lutz’ is 72, that is the number of years they have been married. They were recognized by Bishop Frank J. Dewane during the second Wedding Anniversary Mass of the season at St. Leo the Great Parish on March 6.

“This is all about love,” Bishop Dewane told the 475 couples in attendance. “We are all made to be more and what this means is what each couple represents to the world.”

Marion Lutz said her secret to a lasting marriage is finding someone she could never live without.

For Carmella and Fritz Rath of St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Naples, their secret is to have fun. They showed off one of the ways they have fun by dancing during the reception. “We’ve still got it after 50 years,” Carmella Rath said to the approving applause of the other couples.

Some couples cited prayer, patience, caring, understanding, happiness, good food and many others factors which are a key to a lasting marriage.

This year, as was the case last year, the Diocese scheduled two Masses. The first Mass was at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Venice on Feb. 6. Combined, there were more than 900 couples with a total of 45,819 years of marriage. The couples were celebrating, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, as well as each year above 50 years of marriage.

Each couple received a certificate of congratulations from Bishop Dewane. The Mass was followed by a reception where couples could have their picture taken with the Bishop. The annual Masses are organized by the Diocesan Office of Family Life and are divided into two locations to accommodate more couples and to make it easier for those living in the southern portions of the Diocese to attend.

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