By Dorothy K. LaMantia | Correspondent

Despite a biting polar vortex outside, the atmosphere within St. Pius X Church, Forked River, could not be warmer. That is where 60 married couples from throughout the Diocese of Trenton and beyond came to celebrate love, marriage and family life in honor of World Marriage Day.

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Sponsored by the diocesan Department of Youth, Marriage and Family Life, the dinner/dance was the Diocese’s 10th annual social gathering for World Marriage Day, which the Church celebrates the second weekend of February—often coinciding with St. Valentine’s Day.

Festivities began with Mass concelebrated by Msgr. Thomas N. Gervasio, diocesan Vicar General, and Father Paul Iovino, a weekend assistant in the parish.  They were assisted by Deacon Tony Martucci.

“We extend good wishes to the couples and honor and rejoice in the vocation of marriage,” said Msgr. Gervasio in his greeting at the 4 p.m. Mass. 

“Today’s Scriptures for the first Sunday of Lent –- the Psalm about ‘trouble’ and the Gospel about the temptation of Jesus by Satan aren’t exactly what you’d sing about at a wedding,” he said in his homily. “But is there not trouble and temptation in our faith life and in marriage? On World Marriage Day, we focus on the flip side of experience and celebrate what God’s grace has accomplished. Through his grace and mercy, God has intensified your love, expanded your patience so that you’re here to celebrate your marriage.”

Citing the Pope Francis’ Jubilee Year of Mercy, he said, “Married couples must be ministers of mercy to each other and walk and live in the unwavering trust in God’s love.”

Following the homily, Msgr. Gervasio conferred a special blessing on the honored couples.

Afterward, the couples retreated to the church hall for an evening of dinner, dancing and lively conversation among kindred souls. A screen displayed wedding photographs of many couples in attendance, cartoons tinged with family humor and Pope Francis’ insights on the spiritual richness of marriage and family.  Parishioners Jessica and Mark Little served as disc jockeys.  Featuered speaker, Father James Grogan, parochial vicar in Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Moorestown, said, “Every marriage deserves to be extraordinary.”

“Don’t accept ‘good ‘or ‘okay,’ when it can be extraordinary,” said Father Grogan, who was ordained a priest last June by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., eight years after the death of his wife, Ellie.

Father Grogan said his formula for extraordinary ranged from the simple: “Embarrass your children…hold hands in public.  You’ll give them a lesson in love. Most couples forget to hold hands except during big occasions…Do it every day” to the challenging: “Share your prayers with your spouse. Don’t leave your prayers as silent wishes.  Speak them aloud so your spouse can hear.  You’re choosing to trust them with the same fears and joys you’re giving to God.” 

While Father Grogan’s words raised the bar of expectations, listeners were impressed by his insight, many noting, as did Charmaine and Manny Fidalgo, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Newark, whose ministry to married couples brought them to the event.  “He was so uplifting.  He has real-life experience in both marriage and the priesthood.  Our prayers would be incomplete without each other.

As couples reminisced, swapping stories about their children or how they met, a number of them took time to share what made their marriages successful and what brought them to the celebration.

“Faith is the core of our marriage,” said Jackie Ross, St. Mary Parish, Middletown, who presented the gifts at the Offertory with her husband, Bill.  “The priest who prepared us for marriage said, ‘Each of you will be a primary sign of God’s love for your spouse.’  We made our kids understand that nothing is more important than God, who can only enrich your relationships with people…but most importantly with your spouse.”

Deacon Rich and Amy Scotti, St. Gabriel Parish, Marlboro, credit their 31-year marriage to keeping the lines of communication open.

“Nothing’s a secret,” said Amy. “My husband changed my life.  I was Jewish, he was Catholic.  I wanted what he had:  faith, trust, calmness, a belief everything was in God’s hands.  He brought me to Jesus.”

Don and Marie Kirk, parishioners of St. Pius X Parish, attribute their 51 years together to “kindness, respect, and patience. “

“We worked things out together. You have to compromise. It must be our way, not just my way, which can create bitterness,” the couple said.

“We’re passionate about marriage — our own and others’,” said Torsten and Cathy Helk, coordinators of the new marriage ministry program in Jesus, the Good Shepherd Parish, Riverside.Their 33 -year marriage “is due to hard work, learning, then living what we’ve learned. We came here tonight for inspiration and enrichment,” said Torsten. “It is wonderful to be with other couples who think like us.”

Father Richard Baszianin, pastor of St. Pius X Parish, commented , “We are happy and honored to have married couples celebrating each other.  Jesus entered this world through a married couple. He has a special love for all married couples.  True married life is a journey of love.   I am happy to be the host for this celebration.”