eMatrimony Newsletter
 
Supporting, Encouraging and Challenging the WWME Community
August, 2008
Dear eMatrimony Subscriber,
 

Is summer over already?  It seems like some of you just got back from the convention (which we hear was a huge success - see articles below).  But August is almost over now, and school is about to begin.  It is in Texas, anyway.  Since we have a son in school, we are very aware of this seasonal change.  But even for those of you with no children in school, think back to when you were a student.  That first day of school had some magic to it, didn't it?  Dark magic for some (!!), but hopefully joyful magic for most of you.  Share those feelings, whatever they were, in your next dialogue.  And don't forget to describe it in loving detail!

 

Our Love & Prayers,

Jon & Hilary Olson

eMatrimony editors 

Jon & Hilary Fishing in Yellowstone

News from the 2008 Convention:
One World, One Family, 40 Years
by Tony and Cathy Witczak and Father Emile Frische, MHM,
US Secretariat Team  
We have many happy memories of the anniversary celebration in Ontario: One World, One Family, 40 Years.  But this convention has to be more than just a happy memory.  There was so much shared in those presentations, food for thought for years to come. The invitation is there to reflect on the past 40 years and to make the next 40 years even more alive.   We celebrated the great contributions of our movement to the Church and to our world, as well we should.  But the glory days have not come and gone.  This is the glory day as well!  The call to ongoing conversion and mission was heard loud and clear.  Our world needs our witness to the beauty of Matrimony and Holy Orders more than ever before. Throughout the convention we were reminded of the blessing we received because of the Weekend, and of the need to rededicate ourselves to spreading the good news so as to create more love in this world of ours.    

US Sec Team at 2008 Convention

One World, One Family, 40 Years
.  Yes, that is what it seemed like.  Our Worldwide family was gathered there for the celebration.  Couples and priests came from all over the United States.  Some of our neighbors from Canada and Mexico were there.  Even companions from far away places like Korea, Spain, Colombia, India, Philippines, Cameroon, Kenya, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand joined in the celebration.  Thanks to the generosity of the United States Sections, every secretariat was represented.  The sharing in the small groups, the beautiful national dresses from all over the world, the music, the times of just meeting old and new friends, these were golden moments to treasure.  Wes & Vicky Fach & Fr. John Dickie and Mike and Rosy Stock & Fr. Steven Grancini kept the pot boiling by making sure everything was going as it should.  We rejoiced together in prayer and praise as we celebrated the liturgies.  We prayed silently before the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel.  All of this, and more, ensured a great celebration of life.  We are so grateful to all who sacrificed so much to make all this happen! 
 
For those who were not able to join us there, we hope that you will hear about this wonderful celebration in its second generation.  To catch a bit of the excitement of being at the convention, you can view pictures posted by Marisa Stock.  More photos and other convention information can be found on the convention site.  The outlines of the presentations and some of the talks themselves are posted on ERL (the Encounter Resource Library) - follow the Community Pillar Link and then choose Convention.  The beautiful testimony of John & Barbara Bertrand, a former US Team couple, was the culminating talk of the convention.  They presented along with their seminarian son Jacob and Bishop Salvatore Cordilione. We were moved by this powerful example of the 40 year gift that WWME has been to the Church. Their talk expressed so clearly that the blessings of our movement are still unfolding.  This convention gave us the opportunity to take a long glance backward, but it inspired us to move forward on this mission with passion and renewed dedication.  We have heard the challenge, we accept the challenge.... ONWARD TO GLORY!
In This Issue
News from the Convention
Stellar Communities
Remembering Bishop Kaising
Outreach to Cuba
Outreach to Africa
10/10 Dialogue

Convention Logo 2008

How did I feel on the first day of school as a child?  Describe in loving detail.

More dialogue questions...

Quick Links
 
 
 
30 Years of WWME in Italy

Italy will celebrate 30 years of Marriage Encounter in September.  Maybe it is time to plan that trip to Rome!
Restore, Rekindle, Renew 

WWME Display - click to enlarge

The new WWME poster display.  Email [email protected] for more information.
Stellar Communities Recognized at 40th Anniversary
 
Sixteen WWME Communities from throughout the US were recognized with trophies at the 40th Anniversary WWME International Convention held in Ontario, CA, in June.  The Stellar Community Award was created a couple of years ago to recognize WWME communities around the country that are vibrant, spiritual, welcoming, and committed to the WWME lifestyle. We want to affirm these communities, as well as to present them as a source of inspiration and a shining example to other communities around the country.   We congratulate all sixteen winners recognized at the Convention.  Follow the links for the list of communities recognized and the qualities (en Espa�ol) which make them stellar.

US Secretariat Team Stellar Award

 US Secretariat Team Tony and Cathy Witczak and Father Emile Frische, MHM, present the Stellar Community Award to Sam and Nancy Finnell representing the Texoma Valley Community of Section 10.
Remembering Bishop John J. Kaising, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services
 by Bob & Cindy Pierce, St. Louis
 
The recent death of Bishop John J. Kaising, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, was a loss to Worldwide Marriage Encounter, where he was a compelling leader. He helped present the first military weekend at Fort Leonard Wood in January, 2005, teaching military couples communications techniques to help them manage the wrenching separations that come from deployment.
 
Bishop Jack KaisingWe interviewed him for a St. Louis Review article inviting couples to the second military weekend at the military base in 2006.  In that interview, he said:
 
"My message to the priests is, they are missing a bet if they don't encourage Worldwide Marriage Encounter in their parish. It is rewarding for couples and for the parish.  They themselves  --the priests -- would benefit. I certainly did. People who knew me before and after my weekend said, 'there is a new guy!' What was transforming to me was the concept of relationship.  I had to open up and allow myself to be loved.  I was no longer a love 'em and leave 'em priest.  Before, 'relationship' wasn't part of my vocabulary.  I grew into it. As I watched couples sacrifice for their relationship, how could I do anything less in my relationship with my people?"
 
In 2005, he wrote a letter to the 383 Catholic chaplains in the military services, asking them to consider becoming involved in Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends.  Bishop Kaising told his fellow chaplains, "[A] weekend is a real gift for you and your parishioners during this critical time in our history."
 
Like all of those in Worldwide Marriage Encounter and the many others who knew him, we commend Bishop Kaising's soul to the God he served. And we thank him. For more information about Bishop Kaising.
Worldwide Marriage Encounter Outreach to Cuba
 
Through a financial grant from the US Secretariat, the Latin American Secretariat has started an outreach to Cuba.  The first weekend was held in Cienfuegos last year, and earlier this year the second weekend was held in Holguin.  To see a PowerPoint presentation of the last trip for this outreach, click here.
 
La expansi�n del Encuentro Matrimonial Mundial a llegado a Cuba

A trav�s de la donaci�n financiera del Secretariado de Estados Unidos, el Secretariado de Latino Am�rica se ha comenzado a expandir a Cuba. El primer FDS se llevo acabo en Cienfuegos el a�o pasado y al principio de este el segundo FDS en Holgu�n. Para mirar una presentaci�n PowerPoint del �ltimo viaje en que se llevo acabo esta expansi�n, marque aqu�.
Presbyterian Marriage Encounter Outreach to Africa
by Herb and Jean Ward
We are Herb and Jean Ward (in light blue shirts in figure below), and we are part of the Presbyterian Marriage Encounter.  We attended our first Worldwide Marriage Encounter convention this year in Ontario, and we were in awe.  The parade of participating countries was very impressive as well as the number of priests from different nations.  While at the convention, we ran a vendor's booth to raise money for our outreach to Africa.  Read More...

Wards and Kenyan Couple

Mission Statement
As an online publication of Worldwide Marriage Encounter, eMatrimony serves as a resource to support, encourage and challenge couples, priests and religious to live the values of the WWME experience and grow stronger in their efforts to renew the church and change the world.
Contact Information
For comments related to this newsletter, or if you have something to contribute related to WWME, send e-mail to the editors, Hilary and Jon Olson .