FAIRHAVEN — St. Joseph Church recently honored couples who have been married for 50 years or more, and members of religious orders who have served for 50 or more years. Ten couples and five religious were honored at a celebration on October 15.

The Golden Jubilee celebration included a special thanksgiving Mass, the couples renewing their vows, a dinner, and a chance for family members to say a few words about those being recognized. 

Couples and members of religious orders pose for a picture during the Golden Jubilee celebration at St. Joseph Church’s Golden Jubilee celebration on Saturday, 10/15/22. Submitted photo by Carol Renaux.

“Jubilee is a time to sit back, relax and reflect on the journey of life and to express our gratitude to God for everything,” wrote Father Stephen Banjare, SSCC, pastor of St. Joseph, in an email. “It is a time of celebration. Our common vocation is a call to holiness which each of us respond and live differently — some as a married couple and some as single consecrated. During the jubilee, in gratitude, we celebrate the courage to respond to this call, our commitment and fidelity to this vocation and our perseverance.”

At the dinner, a video presentation honored each jubilarian, and all were invited to dance the night away.

The program was organized by the St. Joseph Parish Pastoral Council and hospitality ministry in collabora­tion with other ministry groups of the parish.

Those recognized on Saturday were: Father Fintan Sheeran, SSCC, 72nd year Religious Profession; Father Colum­bian Crotty, SSCC, 70th year Religious Profession; Father Michael Shanahan, SSCC, 60th year Priestly Ordination; Father Robert Charlton, SSCC, 50th year Religious Profession; Sister Manorama Thomas, MC, 50th year Religious Profession.

Flo and Allen Days, 65th Wedding Anniver­sary; Marie and Stanley Burt, 65th Wedding Anniver­sary; Barbara and Ralph Wright, 63rd Wedding Anniver­sary; Joan and Larry Collins, 63rd Wedding Anniver­sary; Rhody and Richard Medeiros, 62nd Wedding Anniversary; Carol and Sonny DeTerra, 61st Wedding Anniversary; Aline and Dennis Duval, 60th Wedding Anniver­sary; Domingos and Maria Pinto, 50th Wedding Anniversary; Fatima and Jose Ambar, 50th Wedding Anniver­sary; and Doug and Nancy McGee, 50th Wedding Anniversary.

Previously printed by Beth David, editor, in the Fairhaven Neighborhood News and used with permission.

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