Tell City Deanery Expands Marriage, Family and Parish Programs Across Perry County

The Tell City Deanery is expanding parish programs across Perry County with a new Witness to Love marriage-preparation program at St. Paul Parish in Tell City and at St. Mark Parish in Perry County, while maintaining Consecration to the Holy Family devotions at St. Isidore the Farmer and Holy Cross in St. Croix and continuing deanery-wide Wedding Anniversary Masses for couples married 50 years or more.

Father Anthony Hollowell, who serves as pastor at St. Paul and St. Mark parishes, described the approach to premarital ministry this way: "When it comes to marriage preparation, Father Anthony Hollowell likes to provide various options at St. Paul and St. Mark parishes, which he serves as pastor." The Archdiocese notice identifies Witness to Love as a new offering at those two parish sites; diocesan communications did not include class dates, enrollment numbers, or a named program coordinator.

Consecration to the Holy Family is listed as active at two Perry County-area faith communities. Archindy reports the devotional program is occurring at St. Isidore the Farmer in Perry County and at Holy Cross in St. Croix; the available notices do not provide program schedules, leader names, or registration details for those parish-level devotions.

The deanery has institutionalized recognition for long marriages through a Wedding Anniversary Mass celebrated by Archbishop Charles C. Thompson. The area pastors invited "all couples married within the Catholic Church for fifty years or more to celebrate the joy of their vocation," and Sbcatholic scheduled an Anniversary Mass for Saturday, October 29, 2022, at 4 p.m. at St. Paul Catholic Church in Tell City. The 2022 celebration followed the announcement's format: a blessing for the renewal of nuptial commitment, a certificate of recognition, and a reception with the archbishop in the parish hall. Registration instructions requested "Mr. First & Mrs. First (Maiden) Last; Primary Address, City, State, and Zip Code; Primary Phone #; Parish; and the number of years of marriage celebrated this year," noted that "there is no cost to attend," and gave a registration deadline of "Wednesday, August 10." Becky Hubert organized the committee and serves as the contact at 812-836-4334 for information and registration.

Hubert reflected on the gatherings' emotional and social value: "With the archbishop and other deanery parishes involved and the music, it’s an awe-inspiring experience," she said, adding, "At their age, many don’t have that opportunity to visit with others from other parishes." Archindy reports the anniversary celebration "was held a second time at St. Paul last fall, again with the archbishop," and that "the plan is to continue the tradition every five years going forward."

The Tell City Deanery covers portions of Perry and Crawford counties and parts of neighboring Spencer County, and these parish initiatives — free anniversary recognition, faith-based devotions, and expanded marriage-prep options at St. Paul and St. Mark — aim to link spiritual support with social connection across those communities. For more on deanery programs, Archindy directs readers to "See more from our 2026 Marriage and Family Life Supplement," and parish offices at St. Paul and St. Mark can provide local dates and registration details for Witness to Love. Contact for anniversary registration and committee questions remains Becky Hubert at 812-836-4334; all times in past announcements were listed in Central Time.