Dale and Stella Dirkschneider will celebrate 25 years of marriage this year. Part of their plans to celebrate this milestone include attending the annual Anniversary Mass on Oct. 16 at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Oklahoma City. Archbishop Coakley will celebrate Mass and recognize couples celebrating a milestone wedding anniversary – 25, 40, 50 years, etc.
The Dirkschneiders were married on June 7, 1997, at Saint John Nepomuk Catholic Church in Yukon. Below is a glimpse of their marriage journey and the advice they share with other married couples.
How long have you been married? We have been married for 25 years.
When and how did you two meet? We met through prayer meetings in 1995. We worked together in Saint Vincent DePaul in the Indian Conference before getting married.
What advice do you have for other married couples or newlyweds? Praying together is very important. We also make sure to go to confession monthly. Celebrating with family is very important; this is the second marriage for both of us, so including everyone around us is very important to us. We also feel that it is very important to get involved in the Church.
What is the most memorable vacation you have taken together? We went on a pilgrimage trip to Medjugorje in 2011.
What do you think is the significance of the sacrament of marriage? It is very important. It is where we continue to receive grace from the Lord, and it helps us stay close to the Church. The sacrament of marriage is also important because it helps us grow together as a couple and it helps us grow in our faith. The sacrament of marriage also helps us build our faith in the Lord.
For more information about the annual Anniversary Mass, contact Lisa Carrasco in the archdiocesan Office of Marriage and Family Life at (405) 709-2709; [email protected].
The first Together in Holiness Conference is also coming up on Oct. 29, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 8005 Dorset Dr. in Oklahoma City. This conference is a marriage enrichment initiative that inspires couples to grow together in holiness. Archbishop Coakley will celebrate Mass at the conference and there will be speakers and programming to enrich the marriages of those who attend. Register online at togetherinholiness.org.
Courtney Rhone is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.