Newark, NJ – Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., archbishop of Newark, will bless more than 150 couples celebrating their milestone 50th wedding anniversaries during an uplifting Mass on Sunday, May 15, at 3 p.m. in Newark’s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

All are invited to attend the Mass — either in-person or via the livestream on the Cathedral’s YouTube and Facebook pages — to join this celebration of the sanctity of marriage and spousal fidelity. The participating couples are especially encouraged to bring their loved ones so they can share in the celebration, which also honors the deep-rooted faith at the heart of every strong Christian family.

“The Mass commemorates the fact that faith is critically important in a marriage,” said Brian Caldwell, director of the Archdiocese of Newark’s Office for Family Life Ministry. “There will be difficult times in any marriage, but faith can bolster a couple to manage what life throws at them and celebrate the joys that marriage brings.”

This golden anniversary Mass is a return to tradition for the Office for Family Life Ministry, which celebrated the semicentennial anniversaries of archdiocesan couples every year prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those liturgies were always well-received by participants, especially those who spoke with Cardinal Tobin afterward. The cardinal is expected to greet everyone following this year’s celebration, too.

“It is very special to have Cardinal Tobin preside over the Mass as the shepherd of our diocese,” Caldwell said. “It speaks to his commitment to the faithful of our local church. Many couples look forward to seeing him and chatting with him afterwards, as well.”

The Office for Family Life Ministry also commemorates Catholic couples’ 5th and 25th wedding anniversaries annually. This year’s celebration on April 24 saw many couples gather to hear Cardinal Tobin speak about the importance of sacrifice within marriage. Beyond that, the office strengthens families’ faith year-round by holding educational conferences, organizing marriage retreats, providing ministry support training for parishes, and other spiritual initiatives.

To learn more about the Archdiocese of Newark’s Office for Family Life Ministry, visit www.rcan.org/offices-and-ministries/family-life/mission-staff.

About the Archdiocese of Newark’s Office for Family Life Ministry
The Office for Family Life Ministry is committed to placing the Christian family at the heart of the Church’s mission to strengthen families as the basic foundation of both Church and society. Toward this end, we offer resources, training, and opportunities for spiritual growth throughout the vibrant parishes of the Archdiocese of Newark. Our mission is to advocate for the sanctity of life and the importance of a strong Christian family unit. We strive to prepare engaged couples for happy, holy, and successful marriages as well as encourage a spirit of healing for families struggling with loss through grief and separation. We seek to build up families in prayer that they may be beacons of Christ’s love to a broken world.

About the Archdiocese of Newark
The Archdiocese of Newark, under the leadership of Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., the sixth archbishop of Newark, serves approximately 1.3 million Catholics in 212 parishes and 73 schools throughout the counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union. The Archdiocese serves the northern New Jersey community through faith, education, and social services. To learn more, visit www.rcan.org.

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