|
|
eMatrimony Newsletter
Supporting, Encouraging and Challenging the WWME Community |
|
|
|
|
eMatrimony News
Fall Issue!
| October 2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
Where has the summer gone? It's already almost November! We hope your lives have not been so full that you have let your relationship fall by the wayside. There's so much going on it's sometimes hard to catch our breath but we are grateful for every moment and every day - with each other and our family and community!
Last Friday night our sharing group met at the local movie theatre and watched "Courageous" - a movie we highly recommend! What a positive message it sends to our culture of the importance of commitment, of fatherhood, and faith - lived and shared. It helps us keep in mind that our most important goal needs to be our dear, loving relationships - especially our family.
Don't forget to pray for vocations - a common theme in the articles below!
Love,
Joe & Linda Oppelt
eMatrimony editors
|
|
|
|
|
|
 | |
Patricia & Doriano Baisi
|
Let Us Pray
Growing up, in both of our homes, religion was not talked about very much. Both Doriano and I were taken to church and sent to Catholic schools for our education where we were expected to learn about God and Catholicism there. Of course, if we asked a direct question, it would be answered, but that was about it for talking about God at home. The only group prayer was when someone died or during Lent at Stations of the Cross when we said the Rosary. Consequently, we are now often uncomfortable with praying out loud with others.
When we pray with others, we often feel shy and embarrassed. We worry they will judge our prayers inadequate. We worry that they will reject our offer of prayer and, maybe, even reject us. We worry that we will say the wrong thing and accidently offend someone. We worry that we will leave something important out of our prayer. We lack confidence in our ability to pray in a manner pleasing to God. This type of thinking focuses only on ourselves and our insecurities. It does not focus on the needs and desires of those around us.
Not praying together goes against what Jesus came to tell us. Jesus says, "Wherever two or more are gathered in My Name, there too am I." If Jesus places His prayer next to ours, how can it not please God? Jesus is explaining to us that prayer is to bring us closer together as a community and closer to Him.
Jesus still hears all of our individual prayers and joins them with the prayers of all Christians in the Communion of the Saints, but He also desires us to share our faith with others. When we pray together, we are not just saying a formulaic prayer; we are sharing our sorrows, hopes, fears, and joys with others. We make ourselves vulnerable and available to those we pray with. This helps them to understand us better in a very concrete manner. It offers opportunities for compassion and forgiveness and the development of relationship on a deeper level.
Praying together allows us to admit our failings and limitations and fears in a holy and unassuming manner. Praying together opens the door for Jesus to join with us to overcome that which holds us back from reaching our true potential in Him. We've read of those of the Protestant faith offering to pray, out loud, with their friends, colleagues, and even strangers in a time of need. Yet, as Catholics, that was never taught to us. Doriano and I have often said to someone, "We'll keep you in our prayers." but have never offered, "Would you like us (me) to pray with you right now?" It is a challenge and a struggle for us to change our way of thinking about prayer, but one that we ask Jesus to guide us through.
If you would like to try praying with someone:
- The prayer does not have to be long.
- Be as specific as possible as to what you are asking of God.
- Be sensitive to the individuals you are praying with and try to find the words they would like to present to God, but may be too distraught or depressed to do so. If you are feeling uncomfortable to start, mention the intention you are praying for and move into the Lord's Prayer.
- Include an ending that acknowledges God's will for that person. (i.e., Lord, if it is not Your Will to grant these petitions, please give us the courage and peace to face the future.)
- Offer others the opportunity to add to your prayer at the end. (i.e. Would you like to add anything? or Did I forget anything? or Do you have any special intentions?)
We can't physically be there with each of you as you read this, but we know that each of you is facing your own challenges in your life. We are asking God to join our prayers with yours now. We ask Him to bless you with wisdom, patience, and, most of all, with much love. May He wrap his arms around you at this moment and bring you His Peace in your soul. May His beauty surround you and comfort you. May He walk beside you always on your journey through life. Amen.
God bless you!
Doriano and Patricia
10/10 Questions:
- When have I prayed aloud with others? How do I feel about my answer?
- How do I feel praying out loud with you, my spouse? How do I feel about my answer?
- How would I feel about praying aloud with a family member? a friend? a stranger? How do I feel about my answer?
- What would I say if someone asked me if they could pray with me? How do I feel about my answer?
- What need(s) in my life do I ask prayers for? Would I like someone to pray with me about this? How do I feel about my answer?
- Who needs me to offer to pray with them? How do I feel about praying out loud with them?
- What are my fears about praying out loud with someone else? How do I feel about my answer?
- How often do we talk about God and religion and beliefs and prayer with our children? How do I feel about my answer?
- How often do we pray with our children out loud? How do I feel about my answer?
|
 World Priest Day: Sunday, October 30 Please don't forget to honor our priests on Sunday, October 30! As always, WWME highlights the special value and meaning of priests to us on this Sunday each year, in conjunction with the Serra Club, which calls it "Priesthood Sunday:" Go to this website for more information about how to celebrate World Priest Day and show your priest how much you appreciate him:
World Priest Day Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We come before you today to ask your blessing on our brothers,
Whom you have called to the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
Lord Jesus,
We ask that you support them with your presence
And fill them with grace to serve You faithfully.
Gracious Spirit,
Unite us in service with those whom you have called.
Open our hearts to encourage our brothers and sons to pursue your calling,
And open their hearts to hear Your call to this most Holy Sacrament.
Amen.
|
|
Annual Search Begins For Longest Married Couples In United States
San Bernardino, CA - The annual search for the longest married couple in the United States was announced today by the U.S. leaders of Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME), the original faith-based marriage enrichment program in this country.
This is the second consecutive year for the highly acclaimed project recognizing couples for their long marriages. This past February Marshall and Winnie Kuykendall of New Mexico were honored nationally for their 82 years of marriage. There were also 50 state winners recognized for their longest marriages at the same time. There were over 350 couples nominated for the honors during the last event. Winners were selected from nominations submitted.
"Once again we want to honor the longest married couple in the United States as well as in each of the 50 states and territories. The national winners will be recognized during Valentine's Week 2012, which coincides with World Marriage Day, which is the second Sunday of February," explained Scott & Karen Seaborn and Fr, Tom Griffith, SVD, the United States Ecclesial Team for WWME.
They added that an Alumni Club has been started for all those couples honored this year and that the Kuykendalls will pass on the U.S. honor to a new couple in 2012. Previous state winners can vie for the national title, but they also are now considered members of the alumni of longest married couples in their individual states. This allows for new couples to be recognized across the country.
"It is an appropriate time in our marriage enrichment ministry to recognize a husband and wife who have been married for many, many years," the U.S. ecclesial team explained.
Jose and Marilyn Garcia and Fr. Mitch Walters, the North American Ecclesial Team for WWME, added, "We are so pleased that the decision had been made to have this very special activity become an annual project. We believe that this activity will continue to highlight not only the many positive benefits of long term marriages, but also honor those couples that are committed to their marriages."
The Kuykendalls, who will celebrate their 83 anniversary on Feb. 14 of next year, were also recognized this year by President Barack Obama as well as the New Mexico governor and the state legislature for their longest marriage. Governors from other states also recognized their state winners. There also was congressional recognition on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives for the project.
In addition to the longest married couple for the entire United States, recognition will also be given to a couple from each state and territories who has achieved that distinction. In the case of the United States couple, appropriate gifts will be presented to them at a ceremony to be held at their location during Valentine's week. The state winners will receive personal recognition and a special certificate of achievement from the Worldwide Marriage Encounter movement.
Nominations, which are open to all husband and wife couples regardless of religious affiliation, may be submitted by email, regular mail or by calling a special phone number. The process will be overseen by Dick & Diane Baumbach and Fr. Dick Morse, who serve as the North American Weekend Pillar for the WWME movement.
The contact information for sending in a nomination, which simply requires the name of the couple, their wedding date and where they currently reside plus a contact phone or email address of the individual nominating the couple, is as follows: email dickanddiane66@bellsouth.net ; regular mail Dick & Diane Baumbach 1430 Scorpious Ct. Merritt Island, FL 32953 and special phone number 321-453-2475. Nominations must be received by January 10th, 2012.
Media inquires should be directed to:
Dick & Diane Baumbach (321) 544-3440 dickanddiane66@bellsouth.net
|
WWME Around the World:
Kisantu WWME Community in the Congo
 | |
WWME Community of Kisantu, Democratic Republic of Congo
|
Greetings from Africa! We want to share with you the joy & commitment of Congo. Despite all the hardship they face, they try to hold the flag of ME high. Kisantu is the second Diocese in which ME is active in DRC.
Michael, Francoise & Fr Joseph
Panaf Team
|
|
News from our Canadian Family!
New leadership couple for District 2 - Québec & Atlantique (Français) describes their mission.
TÉMOIGNAGE
 | Jean-Victor & Elise Lachance, Jose & Marilyn Garcia, Fr. Mitch,
and Louis-Marcel & Andréa Daigle |
Bonjour chers couples et prêtres de Vivre et Aimer (WW Marriage Encounter),
Le trio coordonnateur, Jean-Victor & Elise Lachance et Père Claude Côté, du District 2, sont venus nous visiter au début juin dernier. Ils avaient une demande bien spéciale. Une surprise, un cadeau...
A prime abord, nous ne croyionspas ce que nous entendions. Ils nous proposaient la relève au District 2.Comment cela...?Il devait y avoir des couples plus compétents que nous...Nous ne comprenions pas. Pourquoi nous? Et tout en les écoutant, ils nous disaient que nous répondions aux critères de sélection. Vous avez été choisis. Vous êtes des animateurs engagés dans le mouvement depuis longtemps et en plus vous êtes bilingues - ce qui facilitera la communication lors de certaines rencontres.
Je regardai mon mari et j'y décelé du pétillant dans ses yeux qui me disait qu'il était emballé par l'idée. Nos amis continuaient de plus belle avec les rencontres prochaines du secrétariat nord américain. A ce moment-là, j'ai saisi que c'était inutile de chercher des excuses pour refuser ce défi.Dans mon for intérieur, ces derniers temps, je sentais un vide en moi et cette opportunité était la réponse à mon tourment.C'était un appel divin pour nous bousculer de nos chaises un peu trop relaxante. Nous avions à ouvrir nos coeurs.
Je sentais l'enthousiasme de mon mari en écoutant nos amis nous faire le récit des voyages et des gens rencontrés aux réunions. Puis tout en y pensant, je voyais tout le cheminement qui nous avait amenés à cette croisée de chemin. Vraiment c'était Dieu dans sa bonté, qui nous tendait la main.
Malgré nos peurs, nous savions que notre Dieu est toujours présent et qu'Il nous guiderait. Nous avons accepté et à peine quelques semaines plus tard, nous voilà en route pour les réunions à Houston avec nos protégés. L'expérience d'être plongé dans ces quatre jours de réunions fut très agréable et instructive. C'est comme si tout un monde nouveau s'ouvrait devant nous et nous étions complètement captivés.
À la fin de la messe du dimanche matin, on nous offrait la coupe d'Eli (Elijah Cup) pour une année. Cette coupe sacrée nous est prêtée pour tous le District 2. C'est une invitation à prier le Seigneur pour des vocations sacerdotales et religieuses. Nous partageons cette coupe avec toute l'Eglise priante. En la présentant, nous parlons de notre mouvement de Vivre et Aimer qui est un mouvement de l'Eglise catholique.
Nous sommes conscients de la mission qui nous attend dans Vivre et Aimer (WW Marriage Encounter) plus précisément dans le District 2 et plus près de chez-nous dans l'unité de l'Atlantique. Notre rôle sera de transmettre de l'information; apporter de la motivation et travailler en équipe. C'est avec beaucoup d'enthousiasme que nous commençons notre mandat.
Chaque jour nous pensons et prions pour la grande famille de Vivre et Aimer (Marriage Encounter) et l'Eglise. Nous prions avec la coupe d'Eli (Elijah Cup) qui nous rappelle de prier pour les vocations sacerdotales et religieuses. Nous rendons grâces au Seigneur pour tout ce qui nous arrive. Nous nous sentons tellement choyés d'avoir été choisis. Nous mettons notre confiance dans le Seigneur. Avec LUI, ce qui paraît impossible à nos yeux, devient POSSIBLE. Alléluia!
Nous vous aimons,
Louis-Marcel et Andréa Daigle
Septembre 2011
TESTIMONY
Dear couples and priest of Worldwide Marriage Encounter,
The Ecclesial Team of District 2, Jean-Victor & Elise Lachance and Father Claude Côté, came to visit last June.They had a special offering.A surprise, a gift.
At first, we didn't believe what we were hearing.They were proposing that we replace them at the District 2.How could that be...?There must be more competent couples than us. We didn't understand.Why us?As we were listening, they were telling us that we responded to the criteria of selection.They were saying: "You have been chosen." You have been team leaders for a long time and moreover you are bilingual, which will facilitate communication at the various meetings.
I looked at my husband and I saw a sparkle in his eyes which told me he was enticed by the idea. Our friends kept talking about the meetings coming up with the North American Secretariat. Looking at my husband, I realized that it was worthless to try to find excuses to refuse this offer. In my heart these last months I was feeling an emptiness and this opportunity was the answer to my dilemma. This challenge was a divine calling for our couple to get up and do our best.We were too comfortable and too relaxed in our chairs.We had a loving task to do.
I felt the enthusiasm of my husband as he revelled in the narrative of travel and meeting new persons. The more I thought about this challenge, I could see clearly all of our achievements aligned in a divine manner by our Lord in such a way that we were exactly where we should be. It was God in his kindness, who was reaching his hand to us.
Even if it was demanding, we knew in our hearts that God would be with us all the way. We accepted and a few weeks passed and we went to the meetings in Houston, with our mentors. Four days of meetings, talking to new couples and priests and a lot of listening was a bit overwhelming. Nevertheless it was interesting and informative. It was a captivating experience, as if a whole new world was opening for us. So much to take in.
At the end of the Sunday morning Mass, the District 2 was offered the gift of the Elijah Cup for a whole year. This sacred cup is to remind us to pray for vocations, especially religious and priesthood. We have been talking about Marriage Encounter and presenting this Cup and asking for prayers for vocations. We emphasize that we are a Catholic Movement of the Church.
We are conscious of our mission that awaits us in WWME and more precisely in District 2 and closer to homein the Atlantic region. We look at this work as one of motivation and transmitting information and working together. It is with a lot of enthusiasm that we begin our mandate.
Every day we pray for the Worldwide Marriage Encounter Family, "Vivre et Aimer" and the Church. We pray with the Elijah Cup for vocations of priesthood and religious orders.We give praises to God for all that he gives us. We feel blessed to have been chosen. We have confidence that God will guide us.With Him, things that seem impossible in our eyes, are made POSSIBLE. Alleluia!
We love you,
Louis-Marcel & Andréa Daigle
September 2011
|
 Worldwide Marriage Encounter Offers Strong Support For "COURAGEOUS" Movie:
In Theatres Now! http://www.courageousthemovie.com/ The movie, COURAGEOUS, deals with a commitment to fatherhood and offers encouragement and insights into creating and building upon stronger marriages and families through fatherhood experiences.
"COURAGEOUS is a must see movie for all those who believe in a strong commitment to fatherhood and all the gifts and blessings that it offers," said Jose & Marilyn Garcia and Fr. Mitch Walters, the North American Secretariat Ecclesial Team.
'We were impressed with the film and highly recommend the viewing of COURAGEOUS to all those who see fatherhood as a dedicated vocation,," said Scott & Karen Seaborn and Fr.Tom Griffith, SVD, the United States Ecclesial Team for Worldwide Marriage Encounter. "Once you see the movie COURAGEOUS you will never forget the very special messages that the film offers. We look forward to spreading the word about this wonderful film, " added Eric & Lupita Goodwin and Fr. John Persaud, the WWME Canadian Ecclesial Team. COURAGEOUS takes place in a small town in Georgia and follows the every day lives of a group of young fathers as they deal with the trials and tribulations along with the rewards and gifts of fatherhood. The movie is playing in theatres - check your local listings for times. |
|
|
|
| Upcoming Events |
Save the Date!
July 13-15 2012
Sacramento Memorial Auditorium
Sections 12 and 17 will be jointly hosting the 2012 North American Convention in Sacramento, California on July 13-15, 2012 at the Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento Convention Center. Plan on joining us for what is anticipated to be a very exciting convention! Update your calendars now! Convención Norte-Americana del 2012
"Compartiendo El Sueño" Las Secciones 12 y 17 serán, conjuntamente, anfitrionas a la Convención Norte-Americana del 2012 en Sacramento, California los días 13-15 de Julio del 2012 en el Memorial Auditórium del Centro de Convenciones de Sacramento. ¡Planee asistir a lo que se anticipa será una convención muy emocionante! ¡Marque su calendario desde ahora!
Click here for the Convention website.
New feature on the website: Look Who's Coming
|
| Contact Information | | eMatrimony Editors
|
|
|
|
|
