LOVE STORIES

“We were in love.”

When asked what made Michael and Jacquelyn Lotano get married, they both laughed, then paused, thinking back to a time 60 years ago and gave the exact same response: “We were in love.”

The beauty and simplicity of that answer was repeated through­out the Diocese of Albany as a record 166 couples from all across the Capital District and beyond took part in the 48th Annual Diocesan Marriage Jubilee 2020. Because of COVID-19, the jubilee will be celebrated virtually and couples will receive a certificate and a blessing from Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger by mail, and have their names printed in The Evangelist (see list) in lieu of attending a special Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany. With the current increase in mail volume, please expect blessings to arrive prior to Thanksgiving.  If you do not receive it by then, please call the Marriage Ministry at 518-453-6644.

“It is very encouraging to see that couples are still so eager to celebrate their sacrament of marriage in a public way, being recognized by the community,” said Mary Fay, associate director for Marriage Formation Ministry and Family.

We spoke with two couples to follow their marriage stories, and to learn how they celebrated their jubilee in a world of COVID.

THE LOTANOS

“When I saw that you could do the marriage jubilee online, I jumped on it,” Jackie Lotano said, having never celebrated her previous jubilees in the Cathedral. 

Jackie was introduced to Michael one day at lunch; she, a 15-year-old freshman, he a 19-year-old senior. The two were both born and raised in Schenectady and attended Nott Terrace High School, which has since closed its doors. Michael recalls being introduced to her in a crowd of people. His first impression: “She was cute and Italian just like me.”

Michael’s date to the senior prom, who was also Jackie’s friend, couldn’t make the picnic, and that’s where he would get to know Jackie. They waited until he finished college, then a week later they were united by the bonds of holy matrimony. On June 12, 1960 at St. Anthony’s Church in Schenectady, Michael and Jackie said, “I do.” 

Throughout their 60 years together, the Lotanos had three boys and three girls. Michael became a pharmacist and opened his own drug store where Jackie would work for several years. When reflecting on their journey together, Jackie and Michael both agree: Marriage is not easy.

“I took it very seriously,” Jackie said, “My husband and I have been through some tough things in our marriage, but I couldn’t give it up and just walk away and I think some people might have.”

“Marriage is tough, you don’t always see eye-to-eye. Try to enjoy it, try to have fun. More often than not, it is fun,” Michael said, “We have to pray that (God) helps you. People let little things build into big things; you should try to not let that happen.”

To celebrate their anniversary, the Lotanos had a family picnic at Saratoga State Park, with their six children, nine grandsons and one granddaughter. 
“It was great because very seldom are we able to all get together for something,” Jackie said. 

Michael, while close to his cousins, grew up as an only child, while Jackie had one brother.  “I like a big family, I like having one,” he said. 
“Marriage is hard,” Jackie reiterated, “Don’t give up on each other.” 

THE FELCZAKS

John and Ann Felczak met through the Catholic Young Adult League (CYAL), a club for young Catholics to meet one another held Sunday nights at the Hotel Van Curler in Schenectady, which has since become part of Schenectady County Community College. In the group, members often met at one another’s homes and participated in outside activities such as bowling. Annually, members performed in a “folly,” a series of performances filled with ballroom dancing and skits. Ann and John would become better acquainted after being paired together to perform.

She still remembers her first impression of him: “I thought he was a very nice person, he was very pleasant, very good looking, and that was it.
“I had gone out with several nice guys, mostly from the league,” Ann added, “and I liked all of them — keyword “liked” — but when I went out with John there was something a little different about him, what it was I never could put my finger on.”

Ann said she initially had no intention of forming a long-term relationship; only 20, she felt she was too young to get married and wanted to wait. But as fate would have it, a year later, both John and Ann would tie the knot at St. John the Baptist Church in Schenectady.

“The first time I went there was in January,” Ann said, “then that following January in 1961, we got married.”

Engaged in July of the same year they met, they had two options: To get married in January or wait until May, since those were the two periods John could take off from work.

“And we were just so in love, we had to get married right away,” Ann said. “I thought this is what God had in mind for us and who am I to question? It blew all the plans I had for me, but it happened and I thought, well God put all this together for a reason.”

And on Oct. 21, 1961, Ann and John welcomed their first daughter, Karen, into the world. The two would ultimately go on to have two sons and two daughters.

John went to Catholic school his entire life and being Christian was a big part of his family. Two of his uncles were priests, and one, Monsignor John S. Felczak, requested a papal blessing for the newly married couple, a document that has stayed hung on their bedroom wall ever since.

Throughout their 60 years, Ann says the two have consistently gotten along well, noting that at this point they fit the cliché of being able to finish one another’s sentences.

“John and I got along really well; we still do. We rarely argue about anything, but when we do it’s over almost instantaneously and neither of us will ever hold a grudge,” Ann said. 

Plans to celebrate their 60th jubilee are contingent on what the weather looks like in January.

“He respects me, I respect him,” Ann said, “The kids are all good — we’re lucky — we know not everyone is as lucky as we are.”