Robert and Marie Keegan (née Lehrke), past residents of Feilding in the Manawatū, marked their 60th wedding anniversary with a special papal blessing in June.
The Keegans were married on 13 June 1964 at the Immaculate Conception parish church in Stratford, Taranaki. Father McGrath, the parish priest at the time, officiated the ceremony.
Reflecting on their life together, Robert and Marie recall the beginnings of their love story. Marie lived on a farm in Stratford, and Robert was based in Ohakea as an airman. He would often drive up on the weekends to visit his family in Stratford, and it was there he and Marie met.
Robert fondly remembers the day he first saw Marie: “It was November 1963. I had gone to Mass at Immaculate Conception Parish in Stratford and saw a lovely young lady walking up the aisle to receive communion. I thought to myself, I must get to know her!” Their first date was at the Hawera A&P Show on 24 November 1963, then on 13 June 1964 (also Marie’s birthday) they were married. “I tell everyone that she’s God’s gift to me because I first saw her in God’s house,” Robert declares. He believes it was the good Lord leading him to her. “I always said that the girl I marry I will look after for the rest of my life, and I think I’ve done that pretty well.”
The process of obtaining a Papal Blessing began when Father Peter Fitzgibbon, former parish priest of Johnsonville, contacted Robert and Marie to explore the possibility of applying for a papal blessing. They in turn enlisted the help of Chris Reilly, executive assistant to Bishop John Adams, who facilitated the submission process to the Vatican. “Chris did some great legwork to make it all possible,” Robert remarked, expressing his gratitude. “We couldn’t have been more pleased with the format she chose.” They decided to frame the blessing in an elegant frame, which, as the couple described, “really brought it alive.”
Once it was framed, Robert and Marie made a trip back up to Palmerston North to show Chris the framed parchment and to meet with Bishop John, who blessed it. “We were happy to make the trip after all the work Chris had done,” Robert said.
The beautifully framed papal blessing now hangs in a prominent place in their home at Summerset on the Landing in Kenepuru, Porirua, where they have lived for nearly two years. “We can see it every day when we wake up,” Robert shared, highlighting the daily reminder of their faith and commitment to each other.
Robert and Marie have had a “wonderful life together,” filled with love and mutual respect. Their family consists of two sons, one living close by in Johnsonville and the other in Kuala Lumpur, and four grandsons. They credit their successful marriage to doing everything together, effective communication, and mutual give-and-take. “You’ll never get two people who are exactly the same, so there’s got to be that give and take in the relationship,” Robert advised. Their final piece of advice for married couples: “you’ve got to have faith in each other.”
The Keegans’ story is a beautiful reminder of the sacrament of marriage and the blessings that come from a lifetime of love and faith. The papal blessing, now a cherished symbol of their enduring commitment, serves as a daily testament to the gift of their union. Their journey from the early days in Feilding and Stratford to their current home in Kenepuru is a story of love, faith, and community, inspiring us all to cherish and honour the sacred bonds of marriage.
Congratulations to Robert and Marie Keegan on their 60th wedding anniversary and the beautiful papal blessing that now graces their home. May their story continue to inspire us all.