175th Anniversary Mass

Married couples honored for commitment to faith and family

James and Pauline Petroviak of Lawrenceburg share a kiss for the sign of peace during the archdiocese’s 175th anniversary Mass on May 3 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. They are members of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Parish in Bright. Nearly 200 couples married for 50 years or more received a nuptial blessing from Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein during the historic liturgy. (Photo by Mary Ann Wyand)

By Mary Ann Wyand and John Shaughnessy

For Bob and Susie Kirkhoff, the archdiocese’s 175th anniversary Mass on May 3 at Lucas Oil Stadium in

Indianapolis was an opportunity to celebrate a powerful combination in their lives—their faith and their family.

As the couple from St. Jude Parish in Indianapolis marked 50 years of marriage at the Mass, they also rejoiced in knowing that two of their 12 grandchildren were receiving the sacrament of confirmation at the same time.

Their two grandchildren who were confirmed are Brad Fey and Maryann Kirkhoff, both students at Roncalli High School in Indianapolis. Brad’s sponsor was Mark Kirkhoff, one of Bob and Susie’s five children.

In another family connection, Father Gerald Kirkhoff, Bob’s brother and the pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Indianapolis, was a concelebrant for the anniversary Mass.

“It’s an honor to be recognized for our 50 years together,” Susie Kirkhoff said. “It’s an exciting time for us, and it’s exciting because of all the ways our family is involved. This is very meaningful.”

St. Gabriel parishioners Louis and Phyllis Glaub of Connersville, who will be married for 54 years on May 21, were also excited about the opportunity to receive a nuptial blessing with nearly 200 other golden wedding anniversary couples during the historic liturgy.

“We’re just very pleased that we were able to make it this far,” Louis Glaub said. “We’re happy with one another yet, and still able to get up in the morning and enjoy the day together.”

He said the secret to their happy marriage is love.

“You have to make sure that your No. 1 crossroad is that you and your wife go down the same path together and enjoy life,” he explained. “Love one another every day, and tell each other that.”

Honesty is an important part of marriage, Phyllis Glaub explained. “You have to always be truthful to each other, tell each other that you love each other every day, and keep your faith in the good Lord.”

Their son, Philip, died of several health complications at age 29 in 1991.

“It was heartbreaking,” Louis Glaub said. “You never get over it. You never get over it.”

But they are happy that their daughter, Melody, and her husband, Bill Crawford, also St. Gabriel parishioners, attended the anniversary Mass with them.

“I’m just so pleased that they have been married this long,” Melody Crawford said, “and that we had that pleasure of taking them there and sharing that joy of a

once-in-a-lifetime moment, especially celebrating all the other sacraments [during the Mass]. It was very inspiring to my husband and me. We’ve been married for 31 years. … It’s very inspiring to me to have parents that have been married this long, and also the values they have taught us by going to church.”

Crawford said she also enjoyed the multicultural parts of the liturgy and music.

“I was touched by all the nationalities that were [represented] there,” she said. “That was amazing to me that we could all unite like that.”

Eugene and Betty Ripberger, members of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in Cambridge City, celebrated 51 years of marriage during the Mass.

“It’s a great opportunity to celebrate our [marriage] vows and 52 years [together] in October,” Eugene Ripberger said as they arrived at Lucas Oil Stadium for the Mass.

They were married on Oct. 5, 1957, and began their married life in the farmhouse where they still live in the northeast corner of Rush County.

“Our house is full of artifacts,” he said, laughing. “We’re the first generation to have the farm, and we’re passing it on to our [five] children.”

The huge football stadium, which is the home field for the Indianapolis Colts, doesn’t seem overly large, they said, because they farm 2,500 acres of land.

“It’s just great being here on this beautiful day after all the rain,”

Betty Ripberger said. “We’re farm people, and we’re praying that the Lord will turn off the faucet for a little bit. We usually start planting in mid-April. We haven’t got any corn or soybeans in the ground, and it’s getting past time. We’re retired, and our sons and grandsons farm the land. Our big enterprise is hogs.”

During the Mass, they planned to thank God for three generations of Ripbergers farming their land as well as for the love they have shared there for half a century.

Marilyn Hess, associate director of the archdiocesan Office of Family Ministries, said 193 couples married for 50 years or more were honored during the Mass that united the Church in central and southern Indiana.

“Together, they have been married 10,492 years,” Hess said. “They have 850 children, 1,789 grandchildren and 362 great-grandchildren. … It is the grace of God, first of all, to even live long enough to be married for 50, 60 and almost 70 years, but it also takes God’s grace to be able to be faithful to their commitment.”

The longtime married couples renewed their marriage vows by participating in the nuptial blessing from Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein.

“There also was the unique opportunity to witness the sacrament of marriage for the young people of our archdiocese who were confirmed and for the larger community,” Hess said. “Not very often do you get that many people in a space where you can have that kind of a witness and be part of the larger Church.” †

 

(Related: Purchase photo reprints of married couples and other special groups from the Mass)