We met at University in 1970. When I saw Sally for the first time I thought wow! I had to find out her name to ask her out. And I did, and we went out for the first time. In 1971 we were both posted to our teaching posts – Sally to Howick and me to Durban. That meant many trips between Durban and Howick.
As Sally has an English background, in 1973 she headed off for England. For my birthday that year she sent me a birthday card, which I still have! So, we started writing to each other and I asked her to marry me. That meant phoning her father to ask his permission, which he gave. So, the date was set for 6 July 1974 in the Limbe Cathedral (also Malawi Independence Day). My family and I all went to Malawi a few days before our wedding. It
was lovely to have both families together, and they got on very well. The great day came and we were married. After our honeymoon, we came back to Cape Town to our little flat.
It was Francis and June Boulle who introduced us to the Schoenstatt Movement. That was the start of our time in Schoenstatt and our introduction to Fr Ripberger, Fr Schneider and the Sisters of Schoenstatt. We learned about Fr Joseph Kentenich, the founder, the Schoenstatt groups, and the Schoenstatt Shrine which we often visited in Constantia. Schoenstatt is a worldwide movement of religious and moral renewal, under the guidance
of Our Lady. She is our Mother and Queen.
On 24 September 1979, we were consecrated into a Family Group. That has been one of the mainstays of our spiritual life. We still belong to that group called “Family of the Father”. Our children who all grew up in the ways of Schoenstatt. The 6th July was our 50th Wedding Anniversary, and for that occasion our children gave us a wonderful celebration party for family and friends. We are very blessed with 5 children
and 10 grandchildren.
It has been a very special celebratory and reflective time as we have looked back over 50 years of our journey together, a journey that cannot be realised alone. Our faith together has evolved and constantly nurtured our marriage; our Covenant of Love has been our anchor. All along the way we have been blessed by circles of support and belief in our marriage, especially in the hardest of times: our families, a circle of faithful friends and our Schoenstatt family. Our marriage has been enriched and secured by what we have received over these 50 years from the wisdom and guidance of our Schoenstatt Fathers and Sisters and the example we have had of other couples faithfully living out their marriage covenant. Gathered together with our precious children and grandchildren around our Home Shrine we offer our gratitude that our Mother and Queen has cared for
us most perfectly.
Gerrard Boulle
