St. Joseph couple celebrating 75 years of marriage renews vows, receives blessing

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John and Lillian Larson with Father Michael Creagan, pastor of St. Joseph in West St. Paul, holding their framed papal blessing parchment honoring their 75th wedding anniversary April 30.
John and Lillian Larson with Father Michael Creagan, pastor of St. Joseph in West St. Paul, holding their framed papal blessing parchment honoring their 75th wedding anniversary April 30. REBECCA OMASTIAK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Two parishioners of St. Joseph in West St. Paul — one of whom was present for the parish’s first Mass in 1942 and has been a member since then — received a special blessing during Mass April 30 as they celebrate 75 years of marriage.

John “Jack” Larson and Lillian “Lil” Larson were married May 1, 1948, in San Diego at a Naval base chapel; Jack was serving in the Navy at the time. The two originally met as high schoolers; Jack was a member of St. Joseph while Lil was a member of St. Casimir in St. Paul.

Father Michael Creagan, pastor of St. Joseph, said Jack is “one of the pioneer parishioners of St. Joseph,” because he helped set up the folding chairs for the first Mass celebrated on Sept. 27, 1942, by Msgr. James Foran at then-Sibley Junior High School — St. Joseph Masses were first celebrated in the school gym.

One time, a friend of Jack’s asked Jack if he could use his father’s car to drive the friend and his date to a movie. Jack agreed but said he did not have a date. The friend told Jack he would set him up with someone, which is how Jack met Lil. Jack said that on that first date, “we clicked right off the bat and have been together ever since.”

Father Creagan said the special blessing and presented the couple with a card from the parish as well as a framed papal blessing parchment. The papal blessing read in part: “The Holy Father Francis cordially imparts the requested Apostolic Blessing to John and Lillian Larson on the occasion of their 75th wedding anniversary and invokes an abundance of heavenly graces and the continued protection of the blessed Virgin Mary.”

Father Creagan also blessed the Larsons’ wedding rings as they renewed their vows professed 75 years ago.

“May the Lord keep you safe all the days of your life. May he be your comfort in adversity and your support and prosperity. May he fill your home with his blessings, through Christ our Lord, Amen,” Father Creagan prayed, in part.

The Larsons expressed their gratitude and happiness about being together the past 75 years. “She’s the most understanding person in the world,” Jack said about his wife. Lil said even when she and Jack faced challenges, “I never thought of anything but getting over it. It was always ‘for better, for worse’ and you stay with it.”

The two have four children, 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Lil says the family plans to celebrate the anniversary together in a couple weeks.

“Jack and Lil are a tremendous example of the vocation of matrimony,” Father Creagan said. “They have a great love for Jesus nourished by the sacraments and prayer. They are the first couple I have ever met who have celebrated a diamond anniversary! Our parish is grateful for their joyful example.”

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