Archbishop Ronald Hicks Celebrates Golden Jubilee Wedding Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Archbishop Ronald Hicks Celebrates Golden Jubilee Wedding Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral

| 06/8/2026

By: Armando Machado

“I am going to ask God that your love will continue to grow, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health,” the archbishop said

Archbishop Ronald Hicks led nearly 200 couples in renewing their vows during this year’s Golden Jubilee Wedding Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, reminding the couples, “Today, as we renew your vows, we do so on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, as a Church, we do not forget what Jesus has done for us.”

In opening remarks, the archbishop said, “Today we celebrate the gift of love, the gift of love found in the sacrament of marriage; the gift of love that so many of you have been sharing for the past 50 years.”

In his closing words, he congratulated the couples on their 50 years of holy matrimony. He said, “Thank you for being here as witnesses of the faith and of your love. Your presence is very important, and I am very grateful to be here celebrating with all of you…You invited God into your life 50 years ago, and you continue to invite God into your life.”

A bilingual celebration

The Mass was celebrated in English and some Spanish. In all, more than 700 people attended, including the couples’ children, grandchildren, and other relatives and friends. All the couples were married in 1976.

“May God bless you, your marriage, and your families; not just today, but forever and ever,” Archbishop Hicks said early in the homily. He went on to note the importance of the first reading from Deuteronomy 8, in which Moses said, “Do not forget the Lord, your God.” The archbishop told the couples, “Today, we take the time to remember what happened to so many of you 50 years ago…And today, as we renew your vows, we do so on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, as a Church, we do not forget what Jesus has done for us; instead, we gather to remember.”

He noted the significance of the Gospel from John 6, saying, “We remember what the Gospel tells us today, that Jesus is the bread that came down from heaven, and whoever eats of this bread will live forever…Remember that love that you had 50 years ago. And as you remember that, I also invite you to remember the ways your love has grown throughout your 50 years…I am going to ask God that your love will continue to grow, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health.”

In one part of the vows, the couples said to the Lord, “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.” Marriage renewal certificates will be mailed to the couples’ parishes and to the parishes of registered couples (about 100) who could not attend the Mass.

Two couples express their joy

Zygmunt and Halina Mikrut, whose 50th wedding anniversary will be on July 10, were among the couples at the Mass. They said they were very grateful to the archdiocese for providing the special liturgy, and to Archbishop Hicks for celebrating it.

“This is very important because it’s been 50 years. This is happiness,” Zygmunt, 78, told The Good Newsroom before the Mass. Halina, 75, said, “Yes, this is all very special.” Their parish is St. Stanislaus Kostka Church on Staten Island.

Dr. Luis Diaz and his wife, Lorraine, were also among the couples who renewed their vows at the Golden Jubilee Wedding Mass. They are former New Yorkers now residing in Florida; they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on January 17.

“It was excellent, an excellent homily,” Luis, a semi-retired internal medicine physician, said after the Mass. Lorraine said a strong, lasting marriage stems from “a lot of patience, communication, love, and faith.” They are both 72. Their parish is St. John the Evangelist Church, Boca Raton, Florida.

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