Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home News QLD

Devoted couples show how marriage can work

byStaff writers
13 October 2013
Reading Time: 2 mins read
AA
Devoted couple and daughter

Golden day: Neville and Margaret Banister of Coolum Beach, with their granddaughter Sophie Banister, at the golden wedding anniversary Mass at St Stephen’s Cathedral. They will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on December 20. Photo: Alan Edgecomb

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

CARMEL Birgan had “a very exciting secret for a whole year”.
The Birgans and 48 other couples celebrated their golden wedding anniversaries at St Stephen’s Cathedral on October 5.
Twenty-two couples married for more than 50 years, including Giselle and Emmanuel Sarah celebrating their 65th anniversary, were also present.  
But Carmel said there was one special difference for her and husband Michael.
“I’d realised when I attended the golden anniversary Mass last year, the celebration Mass would fall on the day of our actual anniversary this year,” she said.
“We’d be celebrating our 50 years on the (October) fifth.
“I kept this wonderful secret for the whole year so it was a real thrill when the day actually arrived.”
The following day at their Underwood home, the couple continued their anniversary celebrations with their four children – Sean, Sally, Sophie and Patrick – and their seven grandchildren.
Carmel said Michael “in a beautiful, beautiful speech” revealed the secret of their long and successful marriage.
“He said it was important to care for each other all the time,” she said.

Committed to each other
Golden day: Michael and Carmel Birgan celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on October 5. The couple attended the golden wedding anniversary Mass at St Stephen’s Cathedral on the day. Photo: Alan Edgecomb

“Michael also gave me lots of accolades – he said he’d been wrong lots of times, but I was always right.”
Carmel said as an 18-year-old she had met Michael while he was a lifesaver at Mermaid Beach.
In the six months leading up to their marriage, Michael had been away working in the steelworks at Port Kembla.
“I wrote to him every day,” she said.
“In his speech Michael mentioned all the letters have been kept in boxes and the children may one day get to have some interesting reading.”
A table with memorabilia Carmel had kept from their marriage day also proved of great interest and inspiration.
“There was the missal I had on the wedding day and other items such as the orange blossom Michael wore on his suit,” she said.
“My wedding dress was on a model standing by the table.
“All in all it was a perfect weekend of celebrations.”

 

Related Stories

All Catholics invited to pray rosary for peace with Pope Francis next Tuesday

Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

ShareTweet
Previous Post

First visit to Latin Mass community

Next Post

Reforms to make the Church safer

Staff writers

Related Posts

Vatican

All Catholics invited to pray rosary for peace with Pope Francis next Tuesday

27 May 2022
Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria
World

Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

27 May 2022
Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia
Australia

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

26 May 2022
Next Post
Truth, Justice and Healing CEO Francis Sullivan

Reforms to make the Church safer

Pope leads new Synod of Bishops

Pope and advisory council to reform Synod of Bishops

Bearing witness to Jesus full of courage and joy

Popular News

  • Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

    Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Christian Brothers’ community mourn the passing of Brother Tony White

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • All Catholics invited to pray rosary for peace with Pope Francis next Tuesday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Vatican

All Catholics invited to pray rosary for peace with Pope Francis next Tuesday

by Staff writers
27 May 2022
0

By Catholic News Agency THE Vatican is inviting Catholics to join Pope Francis in praying the rosary...

Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

27 May 2022
Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

26 May 2022
Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

26 May 2022
Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

26 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping