Garveys Reveal Marriage Secrets

Sam O'Mahony, Tower Staff
April 20, 2012
Filed under News

Catholic University President John H. Garvey and his wife Jeanne gave a lecture on the Vocation of Marriage this week, reflecting on their thirty-seven years together.

“We are called to marriage in different ways,” said Jeanne Garvey, to which Mr. Garvey jestingly interrupted, “Yes, Jeanne proposed to me on our second date.”

The hour-long discussion held before a packed house in the Keane Hall Auditorium was sponsored by Live Out Love, a student org that focuses on chastity, love, life, and relationship. The talk began with the Angelic Salutation, led by President Garvey, and concluded with a question-and-answer wherein students from the audience were free to ask questions related to the talk. Before jumping into the main dialogue, Mr. Garvey, an indication on how the lecture was going to un-fold, began the talk with a jovial stab at the student body that resulted in laughter from both him and the audience.

“We got invited, because you know who we are, and we live here,” said Garvey. “We’re handy and happy to do it.”

After setting the crowd of around sixty at ease, the Garveys transitioned into a more serious discussion on the importance of the Sacrament of Marriage. They discussed how marriage is a vocation to which people are called, just as people are called to Holy Orders.

The Garvey’s, who met while completing their studies at Harvard University, have been married for thirty-seven years and have five children and thirteen grandchildren to prove it. The Garveys held the attention of the audience throughout the lecture as they candidly discussed topics relating to the sacrament of marriage and their personal marriage. The audience most enjoyed the Garveys’ poignant and often humorous recollection of the  dates they shared together as well as the story of their first meeting.

“I think that for most of our students marriage is the vocation that God has in mind for them. I’m glad that so many people were able to come,” said Garvey.

Students and members of the University community alike, were able to learn first-hand about the adventures of marriage, from a real married couple, rather than through secondary sources.

“I really liked it, because I think that they are a great example of real marriage and how to live out that vocation,” said Mary Elizabeth Murphy, senior elementary education major.

Live Out Love is a student org led by senior Michael Pratt. The group meets weekly, and frequently holds discussions on the topics of chastity, love, life, relationships, and general information related to these topics.