By Sallie Bachar
Catholic Herald correspondent

Special celebration honors special marriages

WOODRUFF -- Our Lady Queen of the Universe Church was the site of a jubilee Mass on Saturday, July 26, to celebrate the faithfulness of couples who have been married 25 and 50 years. Bishop Raphael M. Fliss presided at the Mass and led the spouses in renewing their marriage vows.

Twenty-four couples from throughout the diocese were registered, three of them celebrating 25 years of marriage and the rest, 50 years.

Patricia and Tony Yeager from St. Joseph Parish in Rhinelander were celebrating 50 years together. The strength of their marriage, said Patricia, is giving 100 percent, and both agreed that sharing their faith and praying together is very important, along with having a great deal of patience. Praying the rosary is a daily ritual, which they started many years ago when they began to pray for vocations in their family. They have six children and 13 grandchildren. One of their sons did enter the seminary for a time, but after considerable discernment decided it was not right for him.

Said Tony, "Young couples today need to make a definite commitment to marriage. There will naturally be periods of time when you wonder, but you put your hands in the Lord's and work things out with each other."

Rita Eftemoff, from St. Theresa in Three Lakes, said that she and her husband, Rowdell, never go to bed mad. "We always give each other a kiss," she stated. "Even if it is a phantom kiss," joked Rowdell. Rita also stressed the importance of prayer in their marriage.

The Rowdells have been married 50 years and have eight children and 15 grandchildren. "We raised our children the best we could," said Rowdell "and then let them go into God's hands."

Life has not always been easy for us he said. Originally from Racine, Wis., they moved to the north woods several years ago when Rowdell lost his job. "The first winter was extremely hard," he stated, "but it was the best thing we ever did."

Sue and Tom Meyers were one of the younger couples present, celebrating 25 years of marriage. They are members of Our Lady Queen of the Universe and the parents of one daughter.

Both agreed that compromise is an important ingredient in any marriage. "We also maintain a life outside of each other with friends and other activities," said Sue, "but our favorite pastime is spending time at home with one another." They added that keeping God in their relationship is vital. "Without God our good marriage would not have been possible."

Fliss paid tribute to the couples in his homily. "You give a powerful example to all of us," he said, "and we can sense and see the love in you that St. Paul described in today's reading."

He referred to their wedding day as, not only the most important event in their lives, but a "deciding moment" when they resolved to be true to one another in all circumstances and at all times.

Life has high and low points, he said, and there may have been times when your spouse did not measure up to your expectations, but you learned to forgive and how to disagree without hurting each other or your marriage.

"Probably 25 or 50 years ago," he stated, "you did not have much, but you did have an unwavering trust in God, and you were aware that love is the only enduring gift. You set your hearts on that course."

"I pray that all the people of our diocese will learn from you and be inspired by your good example, your way of life and your way of marriage. You are indeed special in the eyes of the Lord."

A similar celebration was held July 12 at St. Joseph Church in Rice Lake.

This is the second year the Diocese of Superior has sponsored special Masses at two locations to honor married couples who have reached milestones.

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2003