60th Wedding Anniversary Blessing Ritual for Bob and JoAnn Wells by Rev. Dr. Barbara Billey, Priest ARCWP, Windsor, ON

Bob and JoAnn Wells

Welcome and Storytelling

Bob Wells and JoAnn Gignac were married 60 yrs ago on Feb 1, 1958 at 10 am by Fr. Larry Mousseau at Holy Names Catholic Church in Windsor.

A couple weeks ago, I sat down with mom and dad to hear stories about how they fell in love and why, their dating years, engagement and wedding day, as well as the early to recent years of their marriage. I learned about their values and how they instilled these in what they describe as their "3 beautiful children." They told me about their challenges and successes as a married couple and how they negotiated their differences as a "stubborn Englishman and fiery Frenchwoman."

Soon, I will ask mom and dad to share with us some of the wonderful stories that they told me about their life together.

Bob and JoAnn met on a blind date 2 years prior to their wedding at a house party. Dad's work colleague, Jim Kirwen and his girlfriend and a friend of mom's, Joanne Cork engineered their connection. Mom was in training to be a nurse and dad was working at Ford's as a cost accountant.

Mom said she was attracted to dad's personality. In her words, he was an "upstanding person, had a responsible job and good looks." Dad said mom "was good looking and had nice legs." He like that she was easy-going, not nitpicky and, mostly, because she was kind. "She let me do what I wanted", he said.

Mom and dad, please tell us the story of your first date and courtship  years, including dad's visits to St. Thomas where Mom was doing a nursing practicum in psychiatry.

Mom and dad were engaged on the night of mom's nurse's prom at Lakewood golf course, 1.5 years after they had met and before they were married there 6 mo later. Can you tell us about that night?

When I asked about the reason for a wedding in the dead of winter, it was clear to me that mom and dad really wanted to get married. Waiting until after Lent was too long. They were eager to purchase their first home and to start a family. Mom and dad please tell us about your wedding day and the early years of your marriage, including raising 3 children? (Aunt Gerry to add what she remembers.)

When we spoke, I asked you about the values you instilled in us as children. Can you tell us about these?

As with any relationship, especially in marriage, mom and dad experienced challenges and successes. Can you tell us how you worked through your differences and some of your successes? Please don't forget to tell the story about the puzzle.

I invite all of us to add stories and/or to express our appreciations Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa.

We know that one of your joys, unlike many of your friends, is that none of our marriages have ended in divorce. You celebrate and uphold the goodness of family that includes grandchildren and great grandchildren, our Hailey now and maybe more to come. From 60 years of your married life, what wisdom words can you give us all about life and love?

Slide Show (Power Point images of Bob and JoAnn, some with family with music We are Family by Sister Sledge)

Blessing of Marriage

Barb

Bob and JoAnn, your anniversary remembers and celebrates the covenant of love that you entered 60 years ago before God, and your family and friends as witnesses through the Sacrament of Marriage.

I invite you now to renew before God and we, the family you have created, tended and loved, the promises you made to one another 60 years ago.

Let's begin with a reading about spiritual love by St. Paul to the Corinthians (a member of the family reads inscription on cross 1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Bob and JoAnn please stand and face one another as you renew your commitment in your Sacrament of Marriage.

We ask You, Holy One to pour forth Your Spirit of mercy, love and compassion upon Bob and JoAnn so that their marriage vows may continue to be strengthened by Your divine grace.  

Bob: Blessed are You, God,

for by your inspiration I chose JoAnn as my wife. Thank you for the gift she has been to me and the face of God that she is.

JoAnn: Blessed are You, God,

for by your inspiration I chose Bob as my husband. Thank you for the gift he has been to me and the face of God that he is.

Both Bob and JoAnn:

Blessed are You, God

for in the joys and sorrows of our life

You have been lovingly by our side.

We have been fortified by Your love, our God and have done our best to be true witnesses to the covenant and promises we made in Your holy name, 60 years ago.

Continue to guide us in Your wisdom and in the ways of Jesus Christ.

Help us remain faithful in our love for one another,

in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer until death takes us into Your eternal life, together forever.

Barb:

Bob and JoAnn, now in the winter of your lives, you rise and fall with the sun, sunrise and sunset inseparable.

May God comfort you in adversity

and be a presence of laughter and joy in ordinary moments.

May God continue to fill your home and hearts with love for each other and the love of family and friends.

May God help you see with eyes of hope, especially in the graces and hardships of aging.

Please extend your hands in blessing our couple.

+ God bless and keep JoAnn and Bob. Hold them in the womb of Your loving embrace. Remain close to them all the days of their life together as they grow in this Sacrament of Marriage, living examples of the love of Christ.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, with us always.

All: Amen. (You-tube Grow Old Along with Me by Mary Chapin Carpenter)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2gfiet4PtI