Chocolates, flowers, champagne and a fine meal served in a dining room with large windows overlooking the crystal clear waters of the Manasquan inlet made for a romantic Valentine’s celebration indeed.

But the real enticing draw for the 113 married couples who came to the Crystal Point Yacht Club in Point Pleasant on “Valentine’s Eve” – Feb. 13 – was participating in the sixth annual diocesan World Marriage Day Celebration – where they had the opportunity to join other married couples from throughout the diocese, share camaraderie and celebrate their vocation to married life and the commitment they made to one another as husband and wife. 

Peg Hensler, diocesan coordinator of Marriage and Family Ministries in the Office of Family Life, reflected on the significance of the observance of World Marriage Day on a diocesan level.

In addition to the fact that there seems to be a real need for couples to get together on a social basis and celebrate marriage, the day allows the couples, who come from different parishes in the diocese, “to get a better sense of the larger community of the Church as the entire body of Christ,” she said.

“By moving from the smallest, most intimate experience of the Church, the Church of the home or domestic Church, to the larger experience of parish community and then to that of the larger experience of the diocesan community, couples see firsthand that being a Christian married couple means being part of something much larger than themselves,” Hensler said.

“This is an especially valuable lesson for young married couples who may not understand that their vocation of marriage calls them to be a sign of Christ’s presence not just for themselves and their families, but also for the various communities to which they belong and ultimately to the world.”

Featured speakers John and Therese Boucher of St. David the King Parish, West Windsor, talked about how they have been able to weave all the elements together in their 40 years of living out their vocation as a married couple, sharing their love for one another, their five children, four grandchildren and their passion for working in the ministry of evangelization.

John Boucher is director of the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Parish Development, and Therese Boucher has worked in religious education. Together, they have authored more than 350 religious books and articles.

While their life together as a married couple has presented its share of challenges, the Bouchers maintained that at the heart of their lives together is believing that their marriage is a ministry and that their work in evangelization is a gift from God.

“Marriage is a gift that you receive,” and with that comes the gifts of friendship, forgiveness and joy, said John Boucher.

The couples who were present hailed from all corners of the diocese and spanned various ages, backgrounds and years of marital experiences.

Married only six months, Gary and Genie Maybury of St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel, said they appreciated the invitation they received from Genie’s parents to attend the gathering. As newlyweds, they said they were especially inspired by meeting couples who have been married 50 or more years.

Given society’s views on divorce, it’s easy to understand why many would have a shaded view of marriage, the Mayburys said. But then again, if “those couples were here today,” they would see people whose marriages have lasted and who have continued to live happily together.

Kathy and Brian Fitzsimmons of St. Mary Parish, Middletown, were first timers to the event as well.

Kathy Fitzsimmons said that she and Brian, who have been married 12 years and are the parents of three daughters, are continuously in search of opportunities where they can not only “develop their spirituality as a couple” but also to broaden their own knowledge and skills as members of their parish’s Pre-Cana team.

“Today was well done all the way around,” said Brian Fitzsimmons, making mention of the Bouchers’ presentation and the personal stories they shared that other couples can “certainly connect with.”

The Fitzsimmons also offered their own bit of advice on what they do to keep their marriage healthy and strong. A favorite activity of theirs is to set up periodic “date nights” where the two of them head out for dinner and a movie, go into the city, make a coffee run to Starbucks or, they may very well stay at home and spend their time together – housecleaning.

“We do what we have to, and if we’re stressing out because the house needs to be cleaned, we’ll stay home and clean it together, and we talk the whole time,” Brian Fitzsimmons said with a smile. “We kill two birds with one stone.”

The concept of celebrating marriage began in Baton Rouge, La., in 1981, when couples encouraged the mayor, the governor and the diocesan bishop to proclaim Valentine’s Day as “We Believe in Marriage Day.” The event was so successful that the idea was presented to, and adopted by, Worldwide Marriage Encounter’s national leadership. In 1983, the name was changed to “World Marriage Day,” and designated to be celebrated each year on the second Sunday of February.