A Lifetime of Love
Jack and Jane Sterry’s life together goes back to when both were just schoolkids living in Portland, Connecticut.
Jack was a senior and Jane an incoming freshman at Portland High School when Jack took one look at Jane and knew she was the one for him. They’ve been together ever since and celebrated 69 years of marriage on June 30th.
“I was lucky with this guy,” Jane said while patting Jack on the arm as both sat in the front pew of the Cathedral of Saint Patrick in Norwich, waiting for the start of the Silver and Golden Wedding Anniversary Mass, celebrated on October 19th, 2025.
“We have four children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren,” Jane said.
“We’re very blessed,” she added.
Celebrating Milestones
This year, the Mass, with Bishop Richard F. Reidy as celebrant, honored the enduring unions of 59 couples within the Diocese of Norwich — from Kevin and Darlene FitzGerald, celebrating 20 years, to Philip and Louise Russo at 70 years.
Sitting just behind the Sterrys, Ronald and Denise Beaudoin celebrated 65 years. They were married on August 6, 1960, and have six children, 14 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
The Lebanon couple has the keys to a lasting marriage, Ronald said.
“Forgiveness, trust one another, always respect the other, and when you address them, never say ‘you,’” he said.
“We’ve done a lot of marriage counseling with other couples,” Denise added. “We always tell them forgiveness is the key.”
Words of Inspiration
Mary-Jo McLaughlin and husband Patrick, who marked 35 years of marriage on June 2nd, delivered the First Reading (Exodus 17:8-13) and Second Reading (2 Timothy 3:14-4:2), respectively.
In his homily, Bishop Reidy called the married couples a great example and inspiration to us all.
“Commitment is something that our culture struggles with — making it and keeping it,” he said. “Decades ago, you made the commitment. For decades, you have kept it. Your decision to abide by that commitment in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, is an inspiration not just to your families, and other married couples, but to all who have made commitments and work with God’s grace to keep them.”
“We also thank and honor God,” he said, “for the sacrament of Marriage. Whose graces are not just for the wedding day, the honeymoon, or the first year of life together. Rather, the graces of the sacrament of Marriage are for the whole of life, in every circumstance and occasion.”
“Love,” he said, “is a choice.”
“It’s an act of the will. A commitment that endures by choice, even when emotions don’t make all of the circumstances easy.”
Prayer, Perseverance, and Grace
In the day’s Gospel reading, Luke 18:1-8, Jesus tells of the necessity to pray.
“’Pray always,’ He says, ‘without becoming weary.’ Not just at Sunday Mass each weekend, but in your daily prayers, together and alone. Prayer opens us up to God’s graces, to meet our commitments.”
The bishop also noted that three couples were celebrating the anniversary Mass on the actual date of their wedding, October 19th. They are Silver Jubilarians Gary Cioe and Rosemarie Terrasi, 25 years, and William and Patricia DeMeola and Anthony and Maria Henry, all 62 years.
Renewal of Commitment
During the Renewal of Marriage Commitment, the couples all turned to their spouse and recited the commitment:
“Blessed are You, Lord, for in the good and the bad times of our life, You have stood lovingly by our side. Help us, we pray, to remain faithful in our love for one another, so that we may be true witnesses to the covenant You have made with humankind.”
By Ryan Blessing
Four County Catholic
Click the Play button below to watch the Video of the Mass
.jpg)