REGINA Magazine 34 | Page 18

A LASTING MEMENTO: We used the vows from my Saint Andrew’s missal, a treasured resource for me not only at Mass but in beautiful line art and catechetical notes. It calls for the groom to give the bride silver and gold, so we used a silver Saint Benedict medal and a gold Miraculous Medal that were blessed along with our wedding bands. One of the first things that Father Kiefer did when he arrived at Saint Alphonsus was rebuild the crumbling eastern wall of the church perimeter. He asked parishioners to give religious medals to place inside the wall for extra protection and blessings. After donating ours which included a St. Benedict medal and Miraculous medal, Father asked the mason to place them visibly on the outside of the wall facing the courtyard. It’s a part of us that will be with Saint Alphonsus long after we’re gone, that we hope future generations can go to see.

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