When James and Shirley Cospolich of Destrehan heard about the idea of a marriage celebration, they decided it was great.Cospolich heard about it through his sister’s group, the Good Timers, and before they knew it they were among 51 couples renewing their vows at a ceremony at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, also in Destrehan, on Aug. 19.
Collectively, the group represents nearly 2,400 years of marriage.
Of that total, Cospolich said he and his wife celebrated 50 years of them.
“It means an awful lot,” he said. “Firstly, we were just trying to celebrate the fact these couples are very happy and have been for a long time. We want to send the message that they had remained married this long.”
Renewing vows is a sentimental thing, Cospolich said.
“It’s just a reenactment of the act and your commitment to your spouse,” he said. “We just recommitted ourselves. We’re happily married to start with, but to say the words again is very meaningful.”
Cospolich said they’ve been married since 1967, when things were quite different in the world.
“We are Catholics and back then religion taught ‘married until death do you part’ and we really meant it,” he said. “There are people who still believe that – and deeply. We’re just fortunate to find each other and it really turned out great.”
It’s good, Cospolich said, to show people can stick to their vows, especially in the Catholic religion.
To make a marriage requires commitment to each other, as well as not expecting anything in return for what one does, he said. Partners must respect each other highly.
To a new couple, Cospolich said the No. 1 factor in a successful marriage is knowing each other and making sure they understand each other.
“Stick with each other through illnesses or whatever happens to you in life,” Cospolich said. “You are making a vow to stay married. In the Catholic church, getting married is a sacrament, and rely on God to help you stay married. You have to have the faith.”
Whether through tragedy or joy, he said a couple must have the mindset they will get through thick and think.
“We have three sons and they are fine,” Cospolich said.
There can’t be any question about a couple staying together.
“I think nowadays, if people have an issue with this it’s much too easy to get a divorce,” he said. “There are ways to work things out from the very beginning you always work toward solving the problem. That’s part of the commitment.”
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