Elizabeth Wiese with a prized possession – a carving gifted by her husband Harold.

(Monitor photo by John Arbter)

Memorabilia of their 50th wedding anniversary.

(Monitor photo by John Arbter)

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“They just scooped us up and loved us.” That is how Elizabeth Wiese described coming to the parish of St. Peter’s Catholic Church as a young mother with small children in 1972. Wiese has never forgotten how she, her husband Harold and their young family were taken into the fold by the small group of parishioners.

It may have been her strong upbringing and the example of her parents, but undoubtedly the welcoming she received 50 years ago left a huge impact on her. Shortly after joining the parish, Weise began to teach Sunday School (known as the CCD – the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine). 

For the past 45 years, Wiese has been scooping up and loving the youth of the parish through her religious education classes. This year, she intends to retire from introducing children to the foundations of faith.

Forty-five years is quite a run. For Elizabeth and Harold Wiese it spans all the notable achievements of raising a family of five children, establishing a successful business in Quitman and transitioning into retirement. 

That run, however, Weise shared, could never have been possible without the unfailing support of her husband.

“For years,” she explained, “Hal would tend the little ones on Sunday mornings while I went in to teach, then meet us for mass afterward.” In fact, she admits, there has been nothing but support from her husband throughout their marriage.  

In May the two will celebrate their 53rd wedding anniversary. 

Their union began at St. Joseph’s church in Bison, Okla.

Wiese recalled, “At that time there wasn’t much in Bison except the church, a grain elevator and a few homes.”

She had grown up as the fourth of six children to John and Anna Hladik. Her father was a wheat farmer and dairyman of Czechoslovakian ancestry who farmed between Bison and Hennessey in north-central Oklahoma. 

“We grew up right in the middle of tornado alley,” Wiese explained, “so we spent a lot of time in the storm shelter.”

She also spent much time being taught the basics of her faith. “We recited the rosary every night together as a family, after dinner,” she stated.  

The two met at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford and married before finishing their studies. Harold completed his education as a pharmacist, and the two were presented an opportunity to lead the expansion of a chain of pharmacies into one of three locations: Mexia, Quitman or Fort Scott, Kan.

The decision was made – it would be Quitman. That decision led to what was then the Missionary Church of St. Peter’s and eventually to her first Sunday school class.

“I had one student in that first class, Heather Watkins, and we still exchange Christmas cards each year,” Wiese noted.

Once she began teaching on Sundays, the duties just multiplied. She spent 14 years as the director of religious education for all youth ages. She also tackled the challenging assignment of preparing youngsters for reception of the sacraments of first communion and confirmation.

Eventually, Wiese settled back to teaching a single Sunday school class – the kindergartners. She is philosophical about teaching the youngest among us.

“Our Lord tells us that we have to become like little children,” she offered.  

There is also a certain practicality to the task. Wiese described how lucky one is to be able to help shape the foundations of faith in young minds untainted by age.

“You have to know your faith to talk to a 4-year-old,” she said with a smile. 

Watching her at work is a lesson in doing just that – talking with 4-year-olds. With a patient tempo and calm nature she captures the youngsters’ attention. Using an array of practical examples drawn from the lives of kindergartners, Wiese makes a connection. 

There is plenty of memory work as well. The five basic prayers, the Ten Commandments and the annual calendar of the church receive plenty of time. The children are encouraged to recite their prayers on a one-on-one recitation with her.

“It removes the nervousness of children speaking in front of one another,” she explained. 

The reward for a correct prayer or notable effort is selection of a prayer card to take home. Wiese shared that she still has in her possession the prayer cards which her father earned as a young boy.  

Near the end of class each child is asked to form a prayer by telling God what they are thankful for. The results are as diverse as can be imaged. On a recent Sunday, the answers ranged from a long description of one’s family, to the weather, to bananas.  

Wiese stated she is thankful for all that the youngsters continue to teach her. “They teach me all the time,” she stated, “simplicity, beauty, honesty.”

Moving on from the Sunday morning faith formation routine will not be too hard. Wiese shared that with ten grandchildren and two-year old great-granddaughter Cecelia, she and Harold will have plenty to fill their Sunday mornings. She stated that memories of all her students will remain, especially the large families she has been lucky enough to teach – the Delgadillos, the Romans, the Barrigas and others.

Wiese summarized her experience by noting the “fullness of our faith.” She encouraged people not to simply sit in the pew for an hour each week, but to become 24/7 Catholics and Christians. 

With respect to all those little ones, Wiese reflected, “You know, they have everything to learn, and they really want to be there, learning.”