This past May, longtime St. Peter parishioners Ginny and Mario Camacho celebrated 50 years of marriage.
“Mario and I met in our freshman year at Quincy College in 1969,” Ginny says. “By 1974, after graduating and spending a year in New York where Mario played professional soccer, we returned to Quincy and joined St. Peter Parish.”
Ginny grew up on a farm near Franklin, Ill., the eldest of 10 girls and two boys. Mario was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. The second youngest of seven boys and one girl, he came to the United States when he was 11.
Mario and Ginny dated throughout college and were married in the Quincy College chapel on their graduation weekend. They have two children, Carrie and Chris, and seven grandchildren. They also have two great-grandchildren.
“Our family means everything to us,” Ginny says.
Both Ginny and Mario have been dedicated to serving our parish community throughout the years. Ginny began playing guitar and singing at the age of 10 years old.
“Through music in church, I have felt a deep love for my Lord and my faith,” she says.
Ginny got involved in Music Ministry here in our parish when a fellow parishioner, Jan Faler, invited her in 1974.
“I played with Jan for the better part of 40 years, and I consider that to be one of the greatest blessings of my life,” Ginny says. “She had a beaming light for Jesus, and her light transferred to everyone she met, including me. She has passed on, but her light shines on in the St. Peter’s Singers, the group she invited me to almost 50 years ago.”
Mario has been involved as an usher for several years and finds the service very rewarding.
“He enjoys meeting fellow parishioners as he greets them when they enter church,” Ginny says. “He helps them find seats. As they leave Mass, he wishes them a good week and they smile. That is a great reward.”
In addition to their service to the church, the Camachos have also served the children in our community as teachers for a combined 61 years in education. They’ve also served with the Teens Encounter Christ program, seeking to demonstrate God’s love to the participants.
The Camachos say giving of their time, talent, and treasure has helped them become better people. They have passed on the message of stewardship to their children, encouraging them to be kind and use their talents to make the world a better place.
“As we have grown through 50 years of marriage, we have learned how important working together is,” Ginny says. “Being respectful toward each other is important in our relationship. We value each other, and we value our family. Every day, through all life’s challenges, we work together and pray that God will continue to be the central uniting force in our lives.”