The Marriage Encounter small group at Christ the King Church in Little Rock celebrated members Russell and Mary Simmonds on their 50th wedding anniversary Aug. 4. The Simmonds met as teenagers in Australia, Russell’s native country, while Mary’s family lived there. They were married at Christ the King Church in 1974. Father Ben Riley of Harrison, a former parishioner, blessed the couple. The group also presented the honorees with a pontifical blessing. The Marriage Encounter group, known as ME10, has met monthly for 10 years since they attended a Marriage Encounter retreat at Christ the King.
