Eighty-nine couples from across the Diocese of Dodge City came to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe Oct. 16, to celebrate their wedding anniversaries.

The event included a Mass celebrated by Bishop Ronald M. Gilmore, renewal of marriage vows, blessing of the wedding rings, and a supper that followed.

In many respects, Bishop Gilmore said, marriage is the best natural expression of who God is.

"God is a communion of persons ... a circle of three sharing one divineness."

He spoke of the trappings of infidelity, the "casual sex mentality," and cohabitaton, and the attempt to redefine marriage by those in power.

"Sin distorts our understanding of marriage," Bishop Gilmore said. "...John Paul II said we should hold up the examples of men and women in stable relationships. And we do that now.

"...We rejoice with you today, and in you," the bishop told those gathered. "You show by the very years you’ve been together that it is possible, that it can, in fact, be done. We are very grateful for that."

The oldest married couple at the Mass was Frank and Marcelina Sanchez. During the celebration, they and all the couples held hands and renewed their vows.

"We have grown together over the years," they said. "We have seen good times and bad, sickness and health. We have watched our family grow and seen our love deepen. Today I renew my commitment to you. I promise to love you and remain faithful to you all the days of my life."