Tears flow on World Marriage Day

By BILL GLEN
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

The Sadoways, about to celebrate their 52nd wedding anniversary, were one of about 70 couples who attended World Marriage Day at St. Charles Church Feb. 8 before Archbishop Thomas Collins and Father Mike Dechant.

"Renewing the vows provides a stronger belief in helping and trusting one another," Nick Sadoway said following the event.

He agreed with the archbishop that lifting promises to God serves to strengthen the marriage covenant. "You have to cherish each other and I think with God's help, our love will last longer."

"Marriage is a covenant of generous love," the archbishop said. "Vows and covenants are things that take us beyond ourselves. They lift us up and draw us beyond our tendency to move inward and be selfish. They are made for a lifetime. They need to be constantly renewed.

"In our hearts, this should be done every single day," he said.

People are often frightened to enter a permanent and binding covenant, he said.

How is it possible for a simple human being to live up to the great sacred covenants which we enter? By renewing each day, people stay fully committed and aware of the ways in which they can fail in living up to their vows.

"It is like someone climbing a mountain," the archbishop said. "To reach the top, you must put the pick way ahead of where you are. That's where we are going. Gradually, we move on to there. It points the way."

Elizabeth Sadoway was deeply moved by the depth of her husband's sincerity as he spoke his promises. "It was a lovely experience. It made us feel so enriched with what we are doing," she said.

"We renewed our vows on our 50th anniversary at the basilica and at St. John Bosco, our parish. To renew the vows in a group makes it seem more like prayer."

After 52 years, she believes the words mean so much more to them.

"For better or worse, we certainly have done that. In sickness and health, that has been in our house," she said.

"And until death do us part, when we were younger we took it for granted we would live forever. Now, we truly know it isn't forever."

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