Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass Honors 41 Couples

By Pamela Seal 
Diocese of Lake Charles 

There is no magic formula to being married 70 years. If you ask Geri Christ Landry what the secret is, without a doubt she says it has been her Catholic faith. 

Geri and her husband Lester are among those couples marking jubilee anniversaries of 25, 50, 55, 60, 65, or 70 years in 2023. The annual Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass honored 82 spouses on Trinity Sunday, June 4, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. 

For a combined 2,030 years of marriage, 41 couples registered for the annual Mass and reception hosted by the Office of Marriage and Family Life. The Mass included a special blessing by Bishop Glen John Provost. 

Lester and Geri were married on August 8, 1953, in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (now the Cathedral) by her first cousin, Rev. Wilson Matt. 

“Lester and I met at a social at McNeese for some of the football players who were new to the campus. Lester was one of those players,” said Geri. “We dated for about two years. He proposed in 1952 on graduation night, and we married in 1953.” 

Their marriage has always been about family and spending time together. 

“I come from a large family. I am in the middle of seven, and Lester was the youngest of five boys,” Geri said. “We have always been close knit. We stayed on the river every summer. We all had boats and enjoyed water skiing.” 

Lester (91) and Geri (92), both made sacrifices to provide a Catholic education for their daughters, Stephanie (Steve) Cochran and Joan (David) Kaspar, sending them to Immaculate Conception Cathedral School and St. Louis Catholic High School. Both daughters and their husbands continued the tradition of sending their own children to ICCS and St. Louis. 

The Landrys’ commitment to Catholic education carries on through the Lester and Geri Christ Landry Scholarship Fund (for special needs students) within the St. Louis Catholic High School Foundation. 

Known as Papa and Mimi to their five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, Lester and Geri are beautiful witnesses of what the Sacrament of Matrimony is all about as they live out their vows, much like Lester’s own parents who both lived into their 90s. 

When asked what advice she has for young couples just starting out in their marriage, Geri said, “You need a lot of patience, sometimes you might have to grit your teeth, but most importantly, have God in your life.” 

In congratulating all the couples, Bishop Provost said, “I wish you to know that you are an example to us all. Especially in these times of doubt and confusion, we desperately need your witness. You teach us the importance of perseverance.” 

The bishop continued, “You have made numerous sacrifices in your lives. You have had to put aside your own pleasures and preferences so that your marriages and your families can navigate this rough and turbulent sea of life. We congratulate you and pray for many more faithful and rewarding years." 

Those celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2023 are: 

70 YEARS:  

• Lester and Geri Landry, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Lake Charles

65 YEARS:  

• James and Remanuel Hollier, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Lake Charles 
• Deacon Norris and Sandra Chapman, St. Joan of Arc, Oberlin 
• Joe and Judy Simon, Immaculate Conception, Sulphur 

60 YEARS:  

• Sigmund and Yvonne Babineaux, St. Joan of Arc, Oberlin 
• Rodney and Patricia Breaux, St. Martin de Porres, Lake Charles 
• Richard and Thelma Kober, St. Theodore, Moss Bluff 
• Colonel James and Diann Manning, Our Lady Queen of Heaven 
• Charles and Barbara Perry, St. Raphael, Iowa 
• John and Jeanette Savoit, St. Joseph, Vinton

 55 YEARS:  

• C.J. and Chris Bertrand, St. John the Evangelist, Lacassine 
• George and Allice Bertrand, St. Raphael, Iowa 
• Art and Dot Gellner, Immaculate Conception, Sulphur 
• Vernon and Mary Hidalgo, St. Raphael, Iowa 
• Jimmie and Brenda Hughes, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Oakdale 
• Woodley and Mary Simon, Christ the King, Lake Charles 

50 YEARS:  

• Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Bellon, St. Margaret of Scotland, Lake Charles 
• Gregory and Perri Bourgeois, St. John the Evangelist, Lacassine 
• Robert and Roxanne Boxie, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Lake Charles Parish 
• Vic and Constance Darbonne, Our Lady Queen of Heaven 
• Derrell and Marilyn Feverjean, Our Lady of the Lake, Lake Arthur 
• Allen and Sue Ann Dupre, Our Lady of LaSalette, Sulphur 
• Jerry and Vera Hollier, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Carlyss 
• Kenneth and Earline Marchand, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Lake Charles 
• Curtis and Veronica Miller, St. Martin de Porres, Lake Charles 
• Herman and Michelle Monceaux, St. Margaret of Scotland, Lake Charles 
• Michael and Linda Monceaux, St. Raphael, Iowa 
• Larry and Connie Perkins, St. Theodore, Moss Bluff 
• Matthew and Patricia Price, St. Theodore, Moss Bluff 
• Donald and Debra Starkovich, St. Margaret of Scotland, Lake Charles 
• Mike and Angie Styron, Christ the King Parish, Lake Charles 
• Jude and Debbie Theriot, Our Lady Queen of Heaven 
• Russell and Brenda Touchet, St. Lawrence, Raymond 
• Charles and Cindy Welch, St. Philip Neri, Kinder 

 25 YEARS:  

• John and Alice Adams, St. Margaret of Scotland, Lake Charles 
• Lee Allen and Carol Benoit, Christ the King, Lake Charles 
• Stephen and Monica Broussard, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Lake Charles 
• Tim and Nicole Kyle, St. Joseph, DeRidder
• Louis and Odelia Sweet, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Lake Charles 
• Joseph and Shaalom St. Mary, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Lake Charles 
• Dennis and Lisa Thompson, St. Joseph, DeRidder