ROCKFORD—For Laura Christianson, the annual Silver and Gold Mass could be just one more big project.

But as she reflects on her three years of work on the several-decades-old, diocesan-wide event, she says, “Every year has been fun.”

As administrative assistant for the Office of Life and Family Evangelization, Christianson is instrumental in the organization of the event — she is the one who takes and keeps track of all the reservations. And, thus, she is the one who hears lots and lots of stories from those who are marking 25 and 50 and more years of marriage.

“This year three or four couples who are celebrating 50 years are coming together with one of their children (who is) celebrating 25 years” of marriage, she says. A similar number of that 25/50 combination couples attended in 2014.

“Three lovely couples celebrating 70 years” plan to attend, she says, one from Freeport and two from Dixon.

“There’s some heart in that one!” she says of their effort to travel that distance, then adds, “There’s generally quite the roar of clapping” for the 70-year couples.

Five deacons and their wives have registered. Three of them are marking 50 years, one celebrating 60 and the other 65 years. Also in this year’s crowd will be a couple married 35 years. The husband is turning 90 soon, so they asked if they could come this year.

Another story that comes to Christianson’s mind is that of Rose Marie Eierman from St. Charles, who is celebrating 60 years of marriage to her husband, John. Their daughter was married on the same calendar day, and for 33 years, both couples have celebrated their anniversaries together.

Not surprisingly, that daughter plans to attend the Silver and Gold Mass to cheer on her parents.

She won’t be the only one cheering. Family members are a welcome part of this anniversary Mass.

To accommodate the crowd, the LiFE Office has moved Silver and Gold to a new location — St. Mary Parish in Huntley, which seats up to 1,200 people. It is a much larger space for the always-packed event formerly held at the Cathedral of St. Peter. Even so, the church will be more than half full with the couples themselves (some 335 couples registered by Aug. 17). The addition of family members and other guests will make the event “Christmas cozy,” Christianson says with a grin.

Also new this year: couples will receive their certificates right away as they enter the church narthex.

They then will proceed into the church with their family members, sitting with them wherever they choose in the sanctuary. Couples will be called by anniversaries (25, 50, 60, etc.) to stand for a blessing.
Cake and punch will be served following the Mass, and “Bishop (Malloy) is right there with a big smile,” Christianson says.

She says that it is “phenomenally uplifting” when she hears from some couples how important it is for them to participate in the Silver and Gold Mass in their milestone anniversary years. The Mass has become a motivating goal for some who are facing illness or injury. Christianson mentions one woman who is determined to come even though she recently fell and broke her hip. Perhaps she’ll manage to do so, similar to one man who suffered a stroke last year but who also was committed to recovery and to being well enough to attend.

“I’ve had people say ‘the certificate is nice, but I’m coming for the bishop’s blessing!’” Christianson says, noting that the beautiful certificates will be mailed to any who register and then are unable to attend.

The extraordinary efforts that some people make to attend this important day in support of the vocation of marriage are well-rewarded.

“A celebratory tone just permeates the air,” Christianson says.

“Seeing those committed vocations is very beautiful and very inspiring.”