By Amanda Murthy
“With God, all things are possible. The fact that we have been so blessed by God especially in our marriage, to be able to overcome all the obstacles we have together, to be healthy, happy and most importantly to be alive to celebrate 60 years together is a testament of God’s grace and love shown to us.”
Glenys and Andrew Wight spoke with The Record about some of the ups and downs of married life, emphasising that they would not have been able to gain their achievements if not for their faith, family support and unconditional love in God and in one another.
The Wights reflected on 60 years of devoted marriage, the day after St Mary’s Cathedral Assistant Parish Priest Fr CJ Millen imparted anniversary blessings on the couple.
Mr and Mrs Wight’s love story began at a Christmas party, a romantic love song by Bobby Vinton titled You are my Special Angel was all it took for Andrew to pluck up the courage to approach a then 17-year-old Glenys.
After three years of courtship, the couple married on 4 April 1960 at St Thomas Cathedral in Kolkata, India – and soon after, were blessed with a baby girl.
It was through having a child and seeing her husband’s devotion to the faith, Mrs Wight said, that would lead to her decision to convert to the Catholic faith, receiving her Holy Communion on the same day as her daughter and 39 other six-year-olds.
“It was such a humbling and exciting experience taking this huge step together with my daughter,” Glenys recalled.
“I remember how encouraging my husband was throughout the process, he prayed for us, with us, and even encouraged me to sew a white dress along with our daughter Candice especially for the occasion.”
Now retired, the former Perth Parliament House Secretary recalls the challenging years that laid ahead, when Glenys and Andrew, with the support and encouragement of their parents, left everything they owned in India to start a new life in Australia.
“When we migrated to Perth in April 1969, we came to a completely foreign place with a young daughter and not much money in our wallet. But we took whatever jobs we got and the moment we had some money, we immediately bought our first home.
“Our Church community at Morley Parish, Infant Jesus Church, played the role of being our first friends and helped us settle in, especially because we did not have any family around and it could have been lonely.
With Glenys managing the finances, Andrew worked as a technician, and the couple managed to pay off their house debt in just five years.
“My husband probably took two sick leave [days] in the 45 years he worked full-time, he is the most hardworking man I know.”
Andrew, a man of few words, said his wife had always been the family pillar and was often amazed at how well Glenys managed to juggle a hectic full-time job and house chores without fail all these years and not burn out.
“God must be the only reason we got through all these years together – we always start our day with a prayer, or attend daily Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, and often pray for our community and loved ones.
“We know how fortunate and blessed we are to be together and in love after all these years, but really it is because we have the greatest example in Him.”
When asked to describe their marriage, Glenys said the pair have always done everything together as a team.
“For example, if he cooks, I clean, we both love giving our time to help those in need, we both love simple things like having our morning and evening chats outside our little backyard and we often try to find joy in giving our services, time, love to one another and to those around us.”
While the couple appreciates the simple things in life, it is the unique gestures that make them love one another more.
“From day one, Andrew has never failed to wake up earlier than me to prepare and bring me breakfast in bed out of his own kindness,” Glenys said.
“And Glenys chooses my outfit for the day, laying it out for me with my wallet, keys and anything important, to save me from forgetting things,” Andrew replied.
Today, the couple are proud grandparents to three grandchildren: James, Ebony and Melody, and great grandparents to Elliot and Ruby.
“When we look back on our marriage, we honestly see past the trials and only find gratitude for all the blessings the good Lord has given us,” Glenys expressed.
“We feel that it is so important to never stop thanking God because He is the reason we exist, He is the reason we found one another and He is the one who will continue to guide us in everything we do as a Catholic couple.”
From pages 18 to 19 of Issue 19: ‘Why Believe In God’ of The Record Magazine