Dear Companions on Mission,

Last month, the three of us were privileged to be at the Funeral Mass for Fr. Chuck Gallagher in New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City. Fr. Chuck touched so many lives that we envisioned a full church, a church spilling over onto the sidewalks and streets. With the short notice, the congregation was not that large, but there were people from as far away as California and Australia, and we know all of you were there in spirit along with the thousands of others who loved Fr. Chuck and wanted to be there. We met many couples who were active in the early years of the Movement, and five of our WWME priests were there among the seventeen who concelebrated the Mass. 

The readings were all chosen by Fr. Chuck; they brought back beautiful memories:  Song of Songs 2;8-17, Ephesians 5, John 17. Fr. Chuck had also arranged in advance for his homilist, Fr. Rosy. He is from the WWME community in St. Louis. Fr. Rosy had us all saying "Amen!"  as he described for us the passionate priest who changed so many lives and helped to spread the fire of God's love all around the world. Fr. Rosy was kind enough to share it with WWME. (For Fr Rosy's homily - click here.)

When the song "Wherever you go" was played, we (Tony & Cathy) were transported to our own original Weekend remembering how that call to relationship brought us back to life. Also "Be not afraid" brought tears to our eyes remembering the many passionate lovers who like Fr. Chuck , blazed the trail for all of us to follow. We prayed like Elisha did when Elijah died, for a double portion of Fr. Chuck's spirit for our WWME family. The world needs many more lovers like him!

After the Mass there was a reception. As we entered, Fr. Rosy was in the center of the group leading us all in "New World" - at the end he led a big "Yeah, God!" cheer in honor of Fr. Chuck.  At the reception, we took the opportunity to speak with Dick McBride who recently lost his wife Barbara. They were the first International Coordinating Team (ICT) with Fr. Guido Heyrbaut from Belgium in 1978-1979. Al & Barbara Regnier and Art & Elsa Fitzgerald were also there, so we now have their email addresses to ask questions about the early years of the Movement. We spoke also with Therese Sweeney, Fr. Chuck's sister, and we told her about the love and prayers offered by all of you and your communities.  

We also spoke with Ron & Kathy Feher who head up the Pastoral and Matrimonial Renewal Center (PMRC), the organization entrusted with all of Chuck's many books and outlines and also the promoters of Living in Love and Preparing to Live in Love, the parish-based programs he helped develop most recently. It is designed to help establish Marriage Ministry in every parish with Couple to Couple programs for the engaged. Ron & Kathy will miss Fr. Chuck as much as his family because of their close relationship - they met almost 40 years ago when they first made their WWME Weekend. We passed along your condolences along to them also. In our dialogue that evening, we wrote about our feelings attending the ceremony. We shared feelings of energy, spirit and gratitude. What a great legacy Fr. Chuck has left for the world! 

For those of you who may want to send cards, their addresses are: Therese Sweeney, 1075 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10128  and  Ron & Kathy Feher.  1023 Tenby Road, Berwyn, PA 19312.   Ron & Kathy's email: pmrcusa@msn.com.

With much love,

Tony & Cathy & Fr. Emile

Do you perhaps remember a time when ... You were a child climbing on the jungle gym and you climbed so high that you were scared to climb down? Mom or Dad or a Teacher told you to just let go and they would catch you, but you were too scared to let go. They finally had to climb part way up and grab you before they could get you down. It was scary, but once you were down, all you did was brag to your friends about how high you climbed.

Let's fast forward to this year...Can you recall a time this year when you cleaned out a closet and didn't want to throw away an item because you might need it in the future? Why? Or...you were asked to take on a new job, assignment, or task? Were you afraid to say yes? Why were you afraid? Think about it.

Often our fears are only mirrored ghosts of our insecurities, but without any basis in reality. The newness and the changes in the situation make us insecure and fearful, but the fact remains that God designed us to be His creative and resourceful people. We can usually accomplish what we set out to do if we invite God to walk beside us and guide us in our endeavor.

Taking on a new challenge, changing jobs, beginning a new project, or giving things away is about letting go of something. Will our life be different, of course it will! Like I (Patricia) tell the children, different doesn't mean good/bad or right/wrong, it just means that it isn't the same. Sometimes the changes are difficult. Sometimes we fail when we risk change. However, in most cases, failure is nothing more than learning a lesson that will assist us in the future.

I (Patricia) was so afraid of losing my job that I became a less effective employee. I attempted to control everything in the workplace. I kept trying to be the "perfect employee". I was afraid of making a mistake. My fear also led to a deep unhappiness that spread to my home life. I could not find the joy and fun in life anymore. When I became self-aware of this, I was shocked at how my life had spiraled downward. I evaluated what would happen if I lost my job and realized that, worst case scenario, I would just get a different one. The world would not stop. My life would not end. My family would still love and appreciate me. These realizations allowed me to loosen up and let go at work. Guess what? I am a better employee and happier person since then.

I (Doriano) suffer from hearing loss due to job related noise. I began to "forget" to do things that Patricia asked of me because I had never really heard her request them in the first place. I was afraid that she (and others) would think I was less of a man because of this disability. However, the friction between Patricia and I increased as the hearing loss progressed. I finally broke down and purchased the hearing aids, but I still didn't like to wear them. It took almost 10 years before I finally let go and began wearing them full time. Rather than thinking me less of a person, the relationship between Patricia and I has deepened as our clearer communication has increased.

Families grow and mature at different rates, but there are some milestones: First day of school, driver's licenses, graduation, first job, university, marriage. Each of these things involves letting go. Think of how stunted your child's life would be if you held them back from any or all of these important moments! If we worry about the letting go each time, think of how it spoils the pride we feel in our child and their accomplishments. It robs our life of our joys! ("Worry is like a rocking chair; it gives you something to do, but gets you nowhere." From: a magnet on my fridge.)

To quote excerpts from Matthew in the New Testament of the Holy Bible:

"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them...Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these...indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things." Matthew 6:25-37 (We suggest reading the whole passage.)

Sometimes it is feelings we have to let go of. Feelings of hurt, anger, frustration, despair. A dear friend or family betrays your trust and a rift develops between you. This rift can never heal if you cling to your feelings of hurt. You cannot heal. Only by letting go of the negative feelings can your healing begin. It doesn't necessarily mean that the same closeness or bond will develop, but forgiveness is essential to our relationship with God and the Church. Let it go. Be happy again.

God wants us to "Let Go". He desires that you put all your fears and worries into His hands. Letting go lets us explore our potential. It lets us explore God's world with the many gifts and talents God has provided us with. It allows us to discern His will in our lives. He has promised us that He will care for us, always. We just have to "Let Go and Let God".

Here's a brief prayer for letting go:

Father in Heaven, help me to let go of _______________________________. Help me to find the joy in this moment with you and move forward in the life you have provided for me. Thank you for walking with me through this new challenge I am facing. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

10/10 Questions:

1. The fear that is holding me back from Letting Go today is: ____________________________. How do I feel about my answer?

2. What does the phrase "Let Go and Let God" say to me? How do I feel about my answer?

3 Read Matthew 6:25-37 together. Describe in loving detail how you felt reading this passage. How do I feel about my answer?

4. What do I have to "Let Go" of in my life? How do I feel sharing this with you?

5. If I "Let Go" of __________________________ in my life, how would my life change? How do I feel about my answer?

6. What changes am I facing that frighten me? How do I feel about my answer?

7. Describe a specific event that resulted from your fears holding someone else (spouse, child, friend) back? How do I feel about my answer?

8. I want to forgive ___________________________ and let go of my feelings of __________________. Describe in loving, specific detail how you will Let Go. How does my answer make me feel?

9. Describe in loving detail one insecurity that you would like to Let Go. How do I feel about my answer?

10. Close your eyes and hold hands with your spouse. Picture Jesus' hands wide open. Picture placing one thing you want to let go of in His hands. He closes His hands over your gift and places them against His Sacred Heart. Describe in loving detail how you felt when you placed it in His hands. How do I feel about my answer?

Joint Meeting between Area Servant Leaders of Section XI and Section XIV

Dear Ron and Judy and Fr. Rocky and all you beloved couples and priests of the U.S. Board,

 

Gil and Rose and I want to let you know about an event we had at our last section meeting. Working with Nacho and Patti and Fr. Raul, we had a joint meeting with all the area servant leaders of Section XIV, who had arranged their meeting to be only about a half hour away from ours on the same weekend. 

 

On Saturday night, when we usually relax and have some fun together we decided to do so with the leaders of Section XIV as well. We managed to get the leaders of each of the English areas to meet with their Spanish counterparts, get to know one another better, and hopefully plan and coordinate activities together.  

 

They especially talked about recruiting in parishes on the same Sundays, doing some kind of Priest evening together each year, coordinating meetings with our bishops together in each diocese so we are not seen as two separate movements, etc.  

 

Many other pictures were taken of the event. Our special thanks to Vinny and Tanya Callngasan who took the pictures and put them on Flickr: Photos here. 

Here are a few of the many recent articles in the news recently. Click on the link to take you to the article.