By Tim Wenzl

Diocesan Archivist

The Diocesan Anniversary Mass resumed Oct. 24 after a five-year suspension prompted by the construction of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe. One hundred and nine couples joined in this celebration of the sacrament of marriage.

Bishop Ronald M. Gilmore, assisted by members of the diocesan clergy, presided at the liturgy. In his homily, he seized upon Pope John Paul II’s apostolic letter initiating the Year of the Eucharist and contrasted the sacraments of Holy Communion and Marriage.

"For the Eucharist is born in a love that affirms and invites. The Father delights in his people. He respects them. He treasures them. He so loved them that he gave them his only Son.

"So too is marriage born in that love. Marriage is on the way when a man and woman rejoice in the sheer existence of one another... when they delight in the differences between them. Marriage respects that different existence of spouses. It delights in that difference. It treasures that difference.

"For the Eucharist is born in a love that is sacrificial. We are asked to do this in memory of him" the Eucharist is a memorial of his suffering and death, of his sacrifice.

"So is marriage made of sacrificial love. It cannot be otherwise in this vale of tears. Marriage is not about you, it is about your spouse. It is about wishing him well. It is about setting her free. It is about enlarging you both. For some reason beyond us, the denial of self for the sake of the other is the royal road to personal fulfillment.

"For the Eucharist is born in a love that is communion.... Receiving the Eucharist means entering into a profound communion with Jesus.

"So is marriage made of communion. It produces an incredibly rich personal union.... An incredible communion of persons indeed.

"For the Eucharist is born in a love that is resurrection. Resurrection is an overflow of life. Resurrection is a release of life. Resurrection is a stunning explosion of life.

"So too does marriage overflow. It raises a man beyond himself. It takes a woman to the extraordinary through the ordinary. And what it does to them, it also does to the fruit of their love, their children.... The Eucharist is the bread of life. Marriage is also a bread of life."

The Diocesan Anniversary Mass was initiated in 1979 by Bishop Eugene J. Gerber. Couples celebrating anniversaries of 10, 25, 40, 50 and over 50 are invited to attend. Celebrating 10 years were three couples; 25 years - 11 couples; 40 years - 13 couples, 50 years - 12 couples, 50 to 59 years - 58 couples, and 60 years and over - 12 couples.

The longest married couple attending the anniversary Mass this year was Frank and Marcelina Sanchez of Dodge City. Coincidentally, they were the longest married couple in attendance when the anniversary Mass was last held in 1999.