Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese report:
15 Jul 2013
Cardinal Pell with couples celebrating Golden Milestone wedding anniversaries at yesterday's Marriage Mass at the Cathedral
Married just seven months, newly-weds Belinda and Graham Connolly were among 53 couples who attended the Marriage Mass at St Mary's Cathedral yesterday and renewed their marriage vows.
The 10.30 Mass which was celebrated by the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell was strictly standing room only as each of the couples were joined by family and friends, and in some cases members of the original wedding part at their marriage 60 and 65 years ago.
The Marriage Mass and Renewal of Vows was held for the first time last year and promises to become one of a much loved and much anticipated tradition.
Open to newly-weds as well as those who celebrated a milestone wedding anniversary over the past 12 months, the Mass is a chance for couples of all ages to thank God for the precious gift of marriage and an opportunity to renew their wedding vows.
Newlyweds Belinda and Graham Connolly led the renewal of vows at yesterday's Marriage Mass at St Mary's Cathedral
For Rosina and Ross Rocca of Ryde who celebrated 60 years of marriage on 17 June, yesterday's Mass was both moving and emotional.
"It was a lovely Mass," Rosina told family, adding she and her husband Ross felt "very honoured to have been part of it."
Among the couples at the Marriage Mass the majority had celebrated 25, 30, 40, 50, 60 and in one case 65 years of marriage over the past year.
For others like Belinda and Graham Connolly, the Mass was a chance to give thanks for their profound happiness and the blessing of marriage, as well as a chance to reflect on how they first met and the seven months since they became man and wife.
The couple first met when they both involved with St Patrick's Catholic Church at Church Hill, one of the oldest and loveliest churches in the city, where they were both involved in the parish Bible Study and Young Adult Activities program.
Both are professional careerists. Graham is a barrister specialising in commercial and constitutional law who before being called to the Bar served as a Naval Intelligence Officer in East Timor, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf.
Cardinal Pell congratulates Ivy and Clifford Fernandes (on his left) and their family on 65 years of marriage at yesterday's Marriage Mass at the Cathedral
Belinda a Religious Education Co-ordinator and teacher at Kincoppal-Rose Bay, and is currently completing a Master of Theology degree and when the two met in 2009, they not only found they had similar values in terms of their Catholic faith but in regard to their work ethic, their love of high culture and a shared passion for travel.
"One of our first dates was when Graham was invested as a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem by the Cardinal Grand Master of the Order at St Mary's Cathedral and is something I will never forget," Belinda says of the ceremony at St Mary's Cathedral on 11 October 2009 when the late American-born Cardinal conferred knighthoods on Graham and four other leading members of the Sydney Archdiocese.
Two years later, Graham knew Belinda was the girl he wanted to marry, raise a family with and spend the rest of his life with. This is when he began planning his proposal. First he made a top secret visit to Belinda's parents to obtain their permission to marry their daughter. Then he had a top Sydney jeweller create an engagement ring that he knew she would love.
Belinda and Graham Connolly on their wedding day on 15 December last year
Three months later on Valentine's Day 2012 everything was organised. The diamond ring in his pocket, he waited until sunset before taking Belinda to the Pedestrian Bridge at Vaucluse, where overlooking the harbour, he got down on one knee to read from a especially-created calligraphy scroll the words of his carefully planned proposal.
Belinda of course said yes and radiant with happiness, she was whisked off by Graham to one of the city's most romantic restaurants to celebrate.
Ten months later on 15 December the couple were married by Bishop Julian Porteous, the Archdiocese of Sydney's Vicar for Renewal and Evangelisation at the French Chapel at Kincoppal-Rose Bay. The Nuptial Mass has been planned with the same detail as Graham's proposal and featured French and Latin music by a string quarter and the chapel's French Puget organ accompanied by an operatic choir.
A Papal Blessing was conferred on their marriage by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI.
Participating in yesterday's Marriage Mass was important to both Belinda and Graham, the young couple insist.
"We attend Mass every weekend but as a newly-married Catholic couple we wanted to join with other couples in a Mass where marriage is celebrated as a Sacrament," Graham explained.
"We attend Mass every weekend but as a newly-married Catholic couple we wanted to join with other couples in a Mass where marriage is celebrated as a Sacrament," Graham explained.
Cardinal Pell with newly-weds Graham and Belinda Connolly
Determined to have a long and happy life together, he says God is at the centre of his marriage to Belinda and that they share their faith journey together.
For a successful marriage he also believes that communication is essential, along with teamwork, honesty, trust, kindness in all things big or small, devotion to one another and support for each other's goals as well as a sense of humour and fun.
Their advice for other young couples starting out and thinking about marriage is to "pray together, put each other first and share quality time together."
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
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