‘God helps take a little weight off our shoulders’

Shane and Caroline Tucker are all smiles following their May 10 wedding in the Chapel of the Sisters of St. Francis in Oldenburg. (Submitted photo)

By John Shaughnessy

It was an opportunity for the future brides and bridegrooms to share the reasons for why they wanted to marry each other.

During the assignment in the marriage preparation class, Caroline “Carie” Thielking and Shane Tucker thought of each other and wrote their reasons, without the other one seeing them.

Carie shared this view of Shane: “Shane is my hero and my home. He is the most respectful, responsible and faithful person I have ever known. I wanted to marry Shane because he makes me want to be a better person.”

Shane wrote these words about Carie, whom he began dating in 2004 when they were juniors at Batesville High School: “Carie makes me feel like home. I rely on her to listen, love and care for me. I knew I wanted to marry Carie because she makes me become a better person every day.”

The closeness of their 10-year connection became a union on May 10 when they were married in the Chapel of the Sisters of St. Francis in Oldenburg.

“My mother works for the Sisters of St. Francis, and I developed a love for the chapel and typically went to the chapel every Sunday morning,” Carie says. “I felt the chapel was my home church and felt most comfortable in the chapel.”

It was also important for Carie to be married in a Catholic church. Knowing how important that setting was to her, Shane, a Christian, agreed.

“We often discuss prayer and faith in our lives, and we respect each other’s similar beliefs,” says Carie, a member of St. Louis Parish in Batesville. “Through college, vacations with family and friends, and any time we were not in our hometown, we always found a Catholic church to go to on Sundays. Being married in a Catholic church united us not only in our love, but in our faith and belief in God and each other.”

Both 27, Carie and Shane view their faith as the foundation of their marriage.

“We rely on each other for everything, but knowing we have God helps take a little weight off our shoulders,” Carie says. “We can allow God to help guide us and answer any questions we cannot.” †

 

Related story: Couple’s love and faith lead them to embrace Church’s great gift in sacramental marriage