PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
Ben LaBrecque and Jen Mackey-LaBrecque talk about their recent marriage at the “Celebrating the Gift of Family Life” event held Sunday at the parish hall of Our Lady, Star of the Sea church in Marblehead.
By MICHELE DURGIN
MARBLEHEAD — Our Lady, Star of the Sea parishioners talked Sunday about leaning on faith — and each other — to strengthen families and lives.
About 100 people participated in “Celebrating the Gift of Family Life,” held in the parish activity center following Mass.
“We are living in a very busy and fast moving world, and sadly, sometimes the most important
things tend to get pushed to the background,” said the Rev. Michael Steele, Star of the Sea pastor. He added: “Wonderful events like this remind us all that it is important to celebrate the notion of family and it’s true importance in the world today.”
Parishioners like Sharon Casey were happy to share their views and experience.
“Faith and family are such important values and virtues that we need to nurture in the world
today. My husband, Chris, and I have leaned on our faith many times in our life together and we have always loved celebrating that faith in this wonderful parish.”
Celebration participants received a copy of “Pope Francis Talks To Couples,” a
book written by the pontiff. The book addresses the teachings of marriage and family life within
the church.
Bob DiGiammarino, 77, a parishioner of the seaside parish since 1972, was pleased with Sunday’s turnout.
“This is a nice gathering,” he said. ”It’s great to see so many people from the parish come out to
reinforce the notion that the idea of family is valuable and also that we, as a parish, are a
family, too,” he said.
Newlyweds Jen and Ben LaBrecque attended Sunday with the goal of talking to married couples about long and strong marriages. The couple have been married six weeks.
“Today is wonderful because it brings people of many generations together and we can learn
from each other,” said Jen LeBrecque.
Barbara and Alex Kulevich, both in their 80s, have attended Star of the Sea for more than 50 years. They shared their story with the LeBrecques and other attendees.
“We have been blessed with a wonderful life together and our eight children and 22 great-grandchildren are the greatest part of that life,” said Alex Kulevich.
His wife nodded in agreement and said, “We came today because we wanted to share our storyand be witnesses for the upside of love and commitment in the world.”
Rev. Steele brought the message home when he spoke to the group gathered and said, “The pope has asked those of us who are serving families in the local parishes to nurture and honor family life. We must get the message out there that the number one ingredient is love and without that we have very little.”