NEWLYWEDS and longstanding couples renewed their vows and received a blessing at St Stephen’s Cathedral for the Golden Wedding Anniversary Mass last Saturday.
Among them were Mario and Lilly Mangano from Everton Park, who were celebrating “47 and a half” years of marriage.
They were married at St Stephen’s Cathedral on April 24, 1976.
Mrs Mangano remembered it was a big wedding once the relatives and friends from both sides were counted.
She said their marriage was grounded in faith and “part and parcel of everyday life”.
The Manganos had three children.
Their first child suffered complications as a baby and died and their second born lived with a disability and died at the age of 39.
Their third child is an architect and blessed the family with three grandsons.
Mrs Mangano said she was honoured to be part of the 150th anniversary of all marriages celebrated at St Stephen’s.
In May 2023, the Archbishop launched a year of celebration for the 150th anniversary of the Opening and Blessing of the cathedral.
This year’s Golden Wedding Mass celebrated all the weddings that have been celebrated in the cathedral.
“It was just wonderful to celebrate with couples young and old,” she said.
Her advice to newlyweds was to sort through the tough times with understanding and rely on God.
She said having faith in God gave her a direction to be aiming for in life.
Paul and Susan Dickie, married 49 years, were at the Mass representing their family’s longstanding connection to the cathedral.
While they did not marry at St Stephen’s, their parents on both sides wed there in 1939 and all four of their children too – Simon and Robin 19 years ago, Justin and Keti 16 years ago, Kara and James 14 years ago and Megan and Sean 10 years ago.
The four children have produced nine grandchildren and the Dickies were “blessed” to have all their children living in Brisbane at the moment.
Mrs Dickie said the cathedral was woven into her family’s story and it had been amazing to take part in the 150th anniversary celebrations.
Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge celebrated the Mass and congratulated the couples for their witness to the “deep, ongoing and mutual” love they had shared.
He said listening to one another was crucial in marriage but also was listening to the “voice of Christ, who is part of the conversation”.
“That’s why we gather in this cathedral to celebrate and give thanks.
“We are saying there is more to this than two spouses and their offspring.
“There is in fact the God who is the only source of love – love can’t come form anywhere else, we have no love of our own, we can only receive love as a gift from God and you have.
“What a gift that has been not just for you and your family but for the Church and the whole world.”
