Catholic Outlook Magazine Ordinary Time Winter Edition 2022

The whole family would walk two kilometres to
Mass at St Anthony of Padua Parish, Toongabbie
every week. They would attend Confession every
month and would recite their night prayers along
with the Rosary.
In their role as parents, grandparents and greatgrandparents,
both Noel and Honorine try and
spread the Good News amongst their family, whether
it be giving them small reminders to attend Mass,
gifting prayers, icons and statues as presents or just
simply offering prayers for them at one of the three
altars they have set up in their home.
“We share our faith by loving our five children, 14
grandchildren and four great-grandchildren (so far),
caring for them and teaching them to be good, kind,
honest and forgiving people,” they said.
“We assure them that prayers do work miracles and
can move mountains.”
When asked for advice they could share with younger
couples, Noel and Honorine emphasised always
being there for each other, being compassionate,
loving unconditionally and having faith in God, the
Church and each other.
“Every marriage has ‘ups and downs’, it’s just how
you approach them and how you deal with them
and that you work them out together with patience,
sometimes silence, tears, apologies, hugs and kisses
and lots of love.
“Couples must learn the art and form of giving,
loving, sharing, serving, praising one another.
“Most of all, keep your faith strong and practise it
every day. Keep the Holy Family close, and pray to
Jesus to stay near you each hour of each day.”
In reflecting on what has kept them together over
60 years, the couple mentioned the deep love and
commitment they share with each other and with
God, practising their faith and always remembering
the vows they made on their wedding day.
“Love is a very important thing,” Noel said. “As St
Paul said, ‘the greatest of all is love’.”
Noel and Honorine’s five ways to love:
Listen without interrupting (Proverbs 18)
Give without sparing (Proverbs 21-26)
Answer without arguing (Proverbs 17:1)
Promise without forgetting (Proverbs 13:12)
Love without ending – Honorine.