‘I’m keeping him’: Hundreds of couples renew marriage vows at a special mass Sunday

He picked her up outside a downtown Hamilton church. He was sitting on the steps and she was walking by on her way to the hospital, where she worked in the cafeteria. She was hesitant at first, but he was persistent.

He kept following me and following me," Audrey Accadia, 92, said with a smile.

She and her husband, Angelo, were married two years later on May 8, 1948, at the James Street North and Barton Street church where they met. They were 17.

Seventy-five years and a lifetime later, they renewed their vows alongside about 300 other couples - - including Joseph and Lee Fiamelli who were also marking No. 75 - at Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King on Sunday.

You've got to give a little and take a little," said Audrey, sharing tips for staying together.

She does the taking," Angelo quipped.

Humour has always been central in their house, the Hamilton couple said.

The smack of lips pressing together could be heard in the sanctuary of the King Street West church as couples celebrating milestone anniversaries from 25 to 75 years reaffirmed their commitment to one another with a special prayer, then sealing it with a kiss.

The decades-old tradition, which was held for the first time since 2019 after being paused amid the pandemic, gives couples an opportunity to celebrate with their church community, a family of families," said organizer Teresa Hartnett.

It's a great celebration. People love it," said Hartnett, who is the director of family ministry for Catholic Diocese of Hamilton.

In the two decades Hartnett has been with the diocese, the number of couples celebrating 60 or more years of marriage has grown dramatically, from about 20 to nearly 80 in 2023.

Her favourite part of the service is when couples are called by group and stand to a cheering audience.

Marriage is joy, sorrow, challenge, and in that moment you recognize that," she said.

High school sweethearts Robert and Dolores Weber, both 94, met in Latin class.

I learned to say amo te,' I love you," she said.

The Burlington pair were married July 9, 1949, and have five kids, 15 grandkids and one great-grandchild.

They know me at Hallmark," said Dolores, a regular birthday-card shopper.

Robert said true love" is a key ingredient to a successful marriage, patience a close second.

Then, perhaps, understanding your strengths and weaknesses," he said.

After 74 years of marriage, their relationship has withstood the test of time.

I'm not trading him in for a new model," Dolores said with a grin. I'm keeping him."

Kate McCullough is an education reporter at The Spectator. kmccullough@thespec.com