Good Shepherd Church Overflows With The Witness Of Marriage

“Since God created him man and woman, their mutual love becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves man.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1604.

Bishop Charles C. Thompson had an emphatic message for the hundreds of couples who, with their families, filled Evansville’s Good Shepherd Church on Oct. 6 for the annual Jubilee Mass for couples married at least 50 years.

“We need you,” Bishop Thompson told them. “We need your witness. We invited you here today to celebrate … but also to learn from your witness.”

Six of the couples listed in the program for the Mass, which is sponsored by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Evansville, have a witness of their love and commitment that extends into an eighth decade! Cletus and Dolores Flittner, members of Christ the King Parish in Evansville, and Lester and Caroline Merder of St. Joseph parish in Jasper, celebrate 73 years of marriage this year.

Four other couples are celebrating 71 years – James and Mildred Gramelspacher, Jerome and Hilda Klein, and Otto and Mary Kress, all members of St. Joseph, Jasper; and William and Jessie McConnell, members of St. Joseph parish in Princeton.

In response to Catholic Charities’ initial invitation, 314 couples from across the diocese who have been married at least 50 years registered for the Jubilee Mass.

During his homily, Bishop Thompson talked about a classmate he knew at St. Charles Elementary School in Marion County, Ky.  “He was a holy terror,” he recalled. “He was mean.” He went on to talk about his own father talking to him about the abusive, alcoholic dad that the young man found when he got home from school every day.

“That family went through such violence and terror because of that man,” he said, “and my father told me the story in order to help me understand the need to have compassion for that whole family.” He want on to talk about returning to the area as an ordained priest – and having that former classmate show up at his rectory’s back door one night – hungry, homeless and fresh out of jail.

“I knew in an instant who it was,” Bishop Thompson said, “and I knew that I had to help him. In that moment, I saw him with a difference set of eyes because of what my father had taught me. Each of you came here with your own stories,” he told the jubilee couples. “You have had challenges and blessings, and you’ve taught your children along the way. Because of your faith, we gather here today.

 “Pope Francis has called all of us to be Christ-like in our witness,” he continued, “and your love and commitment to each other and your families shows that Christ-like witness. In your homes, I hope that what is always there, in addition to your love, is prayer. Through prayer … no matter what you have been through to this point … your prayer has brought Christ into your home.

“We pray today that the fire of holiness never burns out … of your home, your children’s homes, your grandchildren’s homes,” Bishop Thompson added. “We pray that it continues to grow.”

Catholic Charities hosted an informal reception for the jubilee couples and their families in Good Shepherd School immediately following the Mass.

The program included the following formal proclamations from Bishop Thompson:

“Charles C. Thompson, by the Grace of God and favor of the Holy See Bishop of Evansville, bestows his Episcopal Blessing upon couples celebrating their Golden Wedding Jubilee.

“May God who has promised to be true in good times and in bad bless you for the witness of fifty years. May your marriage continue to be a sign of God’s love in these times and for all times.”

Also:

“Charles C. Thompson, by the Grace of God and favor of the Holy See Bishop of Evansville, in testimony to the witness of more than fifty years of married live bestows this blessing on these couples.

“May God who sent His Son to live among us sent the Spirit to be with you all the dates of your life.”