PORTLAND — Thirty-six couples from around Maine gathered at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, June 28, to celebrate their milestone anniversaries at a Mass celebrated by Bishop Robert P. Deeley.

“We have couples with us today married 70 years, and five years, and practically every round number in between,” said Deeley. “It is a testimony to the goodness of marriage and the blessings it can bring. Our gathering, however, is also a reminder that marriage is work, and it is not always easy. This explains the nature of our gathering. In this Mass, we pray in thanksgiving for graces given, and we also ask for the continuing gift of grace to persevere in the commitments that have been made.”

Twenty-two of the couples in attendance were married 50 years or more, including one couple celebrating their 70th anniversary.  

“Our gathering today is a joyous one as we celebrate the living out of Christian marriage in the couples who have come together here at the Cathedral to give thanks for the blessings received in their marriages and to ask God for the continuing help that his grace brings to strengthen their marriages and help them to grow,” the bishop said in his homily. “We acknowledge the abiding goodness of what can happen when an individual chooses to embrace marriage and publicly commit his or her life to another, and, in the powerful love of God, cooperates with the creator in the procreation of new life. A family is born.”

The families celebrating on Saturday attributed their strong marriages to a variety of important qualities.

Yarmouth’s Roena Zink, who has been married to her husband, Ed, for 55 years, says she believes the key to a strong marriage is “tenacity, patience, and love.”

Walter and Regina Dombkowski of Falmouth, who have been married for 50 years, believe communication is one of the keys to a long life together.

“Communication and respect for one another, and love, of course,” said Regina.

Carole and Richard Adams say love and communication are essential in a marriage, but for them, you can add one more ingredient: dance. The couple, who split their time between Old Orchard Beach and Laguna Beach, first met at a dance back in 1962 and have been dancing ever since.

“I wanted to be blessed. I want 50 more years,” said Carole.

Beverly Popadak, who is celebrating 35 years of marriage to her husband, Deacon Dennis Popadak, says God is a constant in their marriage.

“I really can’t explain it. You just know he’s there, in your heart,” she says.

Strong bonds are a family quality for the Dorans of Camden, who are celebrating their 25th anniversary. Tim Doran’s parents have been married 52 years, while Jo Doran’s will celebrate their 67th anniversary this year.

“We put each other first all the time,” said Tim.

During his homily, Bishop Deeley noted that June 29 is his parents’ wedding anniversary. The Deeleys were married 53 years before the passing of his mother.

“I think the way to strengthen a marriage is to have a relationship with Jesus,” said Deeley. “When we know ourselves to be as in need of forgiveness as did the disciples, we can also come to know the love they found, and we can discover the same joy in our lives they found. Less focused on ourselves, we can truly look to the interests of the other. And that makes a marriage ”“ two people joined together in a commitment to make the other first.”

And as they did on their respective wedding days, the couples once again joined hands to receive a special blessing from the bishop.

“May God the Father give you joy and peace. May God the Son have mercy on you and help you in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad. May God the Holy Spirit always fill your hearts with love. And may almighty God bless you all.”