Fifty years ago, the love song They Say We're Too Young to Love hit the airwaves and became the theme song for a young couple in the village of Siparia .

When they first professed their love for each other, the admonitions of their parents, echoed the words of that song.

You can therefore imagine the joy and happiness that pervaded the Ravello family circle, on October 30, when Freddy and Noelyn celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, a golden milestone indeed.

These two active parishioners (Freddy is a lay minister and Noelyn is active in the Legion of Mary) renewed their marriage vows at the 10 o'clock morning Mass, in the presence of their six children.

Freddy and Noelyn Ravello

Parish priest Fr Stephen Doyle presided at the liturgy, which included the exchange of rings. The couple's only son Anthony and his wife flew in from the USA , and so did Freddy's eldest brother Carl and his wife.

At six o'clock that evening, the couple was escorted to the Fr Lennon Church Hall, with great fanfare (hooting of car horns etc.) where a gala celebration, attended by their siblings, six children, sixteen grand children, one great grand, other relatives and friends, awaited them.

Danniell and Dara David, the couple's two youngest grand daughters, began the many tributes paid to the happy couple, all thanking them for being exemplars of faith, forgiveness and perseverance, and asking God's blessings on them for many more years of togetherness, health and strength.

The great highlight and surprise of the celebrations, however, came when Noelyn, in her reply, reminisced in song to Freddy, “ They say we're too young to love ”, bringing back memories of the beautiful beginning of their relationship 50 years ago.

It was indeed a truly blessed, well-deserving, and joyous occasion for Freddy and Noelyn and their family. We pray that the golden couple will continue to enjoy their life together.

--The Ravello Family