For Anthony Muhs, 23, and Stephanie Kerchinski, 23, it was their dream engagement. For years, Stephanie had imagined that her husband would wash her feet. For her, it was the sign of ultimate humility and service.

When she saw the pail of water that day, she knew what was coming. He did too. “I knew she would say, ‘yes,’” he said.

While it may seem odd to some that an engagement story included a foot washing, to this couple it symbolizes what their relationship is all about: service.

When Jesus knelt before the disciples to wash their feet, it was a symbol of “Christ serving the bride of the Church,” Anthony explained.

As Anthony and Stephanie make plans to wed on August 9 this year, they are also preparing for a life of service to each other. “My job is to serve her, she will serve me,” Anthony said.

Human love is divine

Recently, the engaged couple sat together at Hofstra University in Hempstead. They agreed to be interviewed by TLIC before their weekly group meeting of Theology of the Body on the divine meaning of human love. When the interview went a little late and they missed the meeting, they didn’t mind. They had already read and discussed the chapters at home.

It’s been four years since Anthony and Stephanie met in music class at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. It wasn’t love at first sight.

“He was a New York punk wearing a bandana and sweat pants,” she said.

“I thought she was nerdy and joyful, like a product of the ’70s,” he countered. “I was not used to people smiling so much. She wore overalls and loved daisies.”

But feelings changed, first for Stephanie. One day, she heard him play a song on the piano that he had written for the person he hoped to marry someday. It was called, “Everything You Are to Me.”

“I was just in awe,” she said.

They became good friends, but Anthony was not ready for a relationship. When he first arrived at school, he did not attend Mass regularly. But soon he felt God calling him to something more. Along with growing a beard, he grew in his relationship with Christ. He questioned his future. Should he become a priest?

“Eventually, prayer changed my heart,” Anthony said. “It was like God was washing my window so I could see clearly.” He realized he was being called to marriage, but “for me to be a St. Joseph, I needed a Mary,” he said.

He realized he already cared for someone like that: Stephanie. They were both passionate about God, singing and playing the guitar and piano.

“I was co-chair of the liturgy committee at school,” she said.

“I did the praise and worship music,” he said.

After graduation, Stephanie moved into an apartment in Anthony’s hometown of Farmingdale.

Now, Stephanie teaches chorus at St. Martin de Porres Marianist School in Uniondale while Anthony is a campus minister at Holy Trinity Diocesan High School in Hicksville.

They lead song at Adelphi University in Garden City at the 7 p.m. Sunday Mass and lead music for the Spiritual Children of Padre Pio, a young adult ministry at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Woodbury. They also play for various vocation, college and seminary retreats as well as charismatic conferences.

They are excited and nervous about the big day, when they will finally share a home and the rest of their lives together. “I want to live up to being the man that she deserves, being an image of Christ for her,” Anthony said.

Marriage founded on faith

August and Rita Ripp, both 92, got married when they were 23 years old, the same age as Anthony and Stephanie are now. If you ask the Ripps what the secret is to their long-lasting marriage of 68 years, they can’t quite put a finger on it.

“Well, we never go to bed angry,” said Rita, a parishioner of St. Joseph’s Church in Babylon. “And first thing in the morning, he kisses me.”

But after many stories of Church and children, it’s evident their relationship is built on faith and family.

Like the intertwined fingers of lovers, the Ripps’ family life and religious life are almost indistinguishable.Lining the walls of their home in North Babylon, there are pictures of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. But just as notable are photos of themselves being honored by bishops and priests for their years of service.

In one picture, Bishop John McGann thanks them for raising funds for the Bishop’s Appeal. In another, Bishop William Murphy awards them the St. Agnes Medal of Service. Bishop Murphy recently called recipients of this award “the unsung heroes in our midst who build up our parish communities by extraordinary service in parish ministry.”

The Ripps admit they’ve done a lot of service over the years: the Bishop’s Appeal, the Holy Name Society, bingo, the parish bazaar, the Chrysanthemum Ball, ...