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Happening ... in the Local Church
 Jim
and Kathy Konopa of St. Joan of Arc Parish, Kokomo, at the Sept. 20
anniversary vespers with two of their seven children: Bridget, 8, and
Jerome, 3. Dozens of married couples joined the annual celebration.
(Photos by Caroline B. Mooney) |
 James
and Rae Ann Panther of St. Charles Borromeo, Peru, have been married
four months. |
 Bernard
and Avanelle Hubertz of St. Boniface, Lafayette, married 69 years, renew
their vows. |
Couples join Bishop William L. Higi for annual celebration honoring marriage.
By Caroline B. Mooney
The
Catholic Moment
LAFAYETTE — Married just four months, James and Rae Ann Panther still propose to each other every day — and the answer is always, “Yes.”
So, when Rae Ann Panther saw an invitation to renew wedding vows during anniversary vespers with Bishop William L. Higi, she thought it would be a great surprise for her husband.
“I thought we were putting on our wedding clothes to get more photos taken,” James said. “I was very impressed when we got here.”
He and his wife are parishioners of St. Charles Borromeo Church, Peru.
The Panthers were among 59 couples recognized by Bishop Higi with signed certificates honoring their years of marriage. Forty-five couples came to the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception on Sept. 20 to receive a personal blessing and renew their vows. A reception followed. The event was coordinated by the Pastoral Office for Worship and RCIA.
Bishop Higi thanked those gathered for their vocation.
“The Church teaches us that marriage is a vocation,” Bishop Higi said. “As a vocation it is a call to holiness.
“… We don’t look upon ourselves as holy, of course. One of the reasons I believe that’s the case is because we confuse holiness with being perfect, and we know that we are not perfect. Your spouse knows it and so do you.
“… My understanding of marriage tells me that the key to a successful marriage is falling in love again and again,” Bishop Higi said. “As you thank God for your blessings as husband and wife, let me urge you to find the right time and place to talk about the many times you have fallen in love. Let your spouse know what those times have meant to you. Let your spouse read the love shining through your eyes.”
To the delight of those gathered, Bishop Higi sang part of “Do You Love Me?” from the musical “Fiddler on the Roof.” The lines reveal a couple, Tevye and Golde, reaffirming their love for one another after 25 years of marriage.
After the homily, couples came forward to be greeted by the bishop. Spouses then renewed their marriage commitment and received the bishop’s blessing.
“Being truthful and keeping your sense of humor are keys to a long marriage,” said Caroline Lesniak, married to husband Stanley for 62 years. “Our religion has played a big part in our marriage and in raising children.
“Bishop Higi was administrator of our parish, St. Augusta, Lake Village, 39 years ago,” she said. “He came to our 60th wedding anniversary celebration. We are very lucky to know him well.”
Alan and Cynthia Hamersly, members of Our Lady of Grace Church, Noblesville, have been married 25 years.
“Couples need to share, communicate their feelings, have faith and pray together to keep a marriage going,” Alan said. His wife added that respect for each other is important in the marriage bond.
“Alan converted in 2000,” Cynthia said. “That was nice for us and had a great impact on our marriage.”
“Early on in our marriage, we lost a child,” Alan said. “If it wasn’t for our faith and the Church, it would be tough to get through.”
Tim and Andrea Kerr, parishioners of St. Thomas Aquinas Church, West Lafayette, have been married for four years.
“Christ guides what we do on a daily basis,” Tim said. “We get up and think about what we should do for Christ today. We try to live out what Christ wants with our families, at home and witness at our jobs.”
“Faith is an essential part of our marriage,” Andrea said.
Jim and Kathy Konopa, married 25 years, are members of St. Joan of Arc Church, Kokomo. Jim thought the service was “a wonderful opportunity to renew vows and get a blessing from the bishop.”
“Our marriage is based on faith and the grace that God gives us,” he said. “We wanted to come here to renew our faith, and our 25th anniversary is special.”
After being married for 62 years, “it feels like we’ve been married to each other our whole life,” Dorothy Timm said. She and her husband, William, are parishioners of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception.
“Marriage has been a blessing, and we have six beautiful daughters,” William said.
Deacon Joe Van Schepen and his wife, Winnie, of St. Cecilia Church, DeMotte, came to celebrate 33 years of marriage. They both grew up in DeMotte and knew each other — but didn’t date — in high school. They started dating one April, and were married in September.
“It really hit me, like, ‘Wow,’ once we started dating,” Winnie said. “It helps to be friends first.”
“Faith has played a large part in our marriage — especially when I was going through diaconate formation,” Deacon Van Schepen said.
“God has gotten us through a lot of trials, as Bishop did a good job of reminding us in his homily,” Winnie said.