Catholic Transcript Online

HARTFORD – As afternoon sunlight filtered through the 67-foot-high stained glass windows inside St. Joseph Cathedral on Oct. 25, it illuminated Armand and Patricia Colello in the front pew. Mr. Colello was celebrating his 85th birthday that very day, and the Colellos were celebrating 65 years of marriage.

But for Mr. Colello, renewing his marriage vows at the annual wedding anniversary Mass in this cathedral held special significance. "I set the glass here," he said. "I installed these windows."

The present St. Joseph Cathedral was dedicated on May 15, 1962, replacing the original structure that burned on Dec. 31, 1956. The 24 impressive windows in the nave of the new structure reflect the theme Christ the Savior. They were designed by Jean Barillet of Paris and depict scenes from the life of Christ. The windows are set in concrete instead of lead came, which usually acts as a divider, according to the archdiocesan Web site.

The Colellos, parishioners at St. Ann Church in New Britain, were among 301 couples celebrating their marriages at the annual wedding anniversary Mass, sponsored by the Hamden-based Family Life Office of the Archdiocese of Hartford.

Msgr. John J. McCarthy, principal celebrant, alluded to Mr. Colello’s contribution to the cathedral in a prelude to his homily about how enduring marriages reflect the endurance of the Catholic Church, as symbolized by another great structure, St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. More than a century in the making, St. Peter’s reflects the genius of the greatest artists and architects of the 16th and early 17th centuries. Despite the many minds that conceived it and thousands of hands that built it, St. Peter’s is a unified structure, he said.

"It’s a symbol of what we’re celebrating today. Your marriages have endured. Just as St. Peter’s underwent a wide variety of experiences, you have experienced growth and change in yourselves and in your marriages," Msgr. McCarthy said.

Referring to the reading of 1 Cor 12:31-13:8 ("Love is patient, love is kind … it rejoices in the truth"), Msgr. McCarthy said, "Love is not always easy, but it is the glue that holds your marriage together. You have lived that love for years. Like St. Peter’s, you have endured, created something lasting, something beautiful, something that inspires us all."

There were 29 couples celebrating 60 years, 110 celebrating 50 years and 70 couples celebrating 25 years. Many more celebrated other anniversaries.

Among 25 couples renewing their vows after 40 years of marriage were Donald and Christine Paglia, coordinators of the Family Life Office for the past 32 years. Mr. Paglia said the number of couples involved this year may be a record.

"This Mass has been a function of the Family Life Office since before we came to it," Mr. Paglia said. "It’s grown under Archbishop [Henry J.] Mansell, and it’s become a very big event."