World Wide Marriage Encounter Tampa Bay

ROME, Feb. 8, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Pope Benedict XVI extended his blessing to Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME) at a recent Wednesday audience in Rome while speaking with Tony & Cathy Witczak of Philadelphia, the International Ecclesial Team along with Fr. Emile Frische, MHM, a New Zealander currently working in the Archdiocese of New York. "I will pray for you" the Holy Father added.

Fr. Emile said "We are grateful for the support of our Catholic family in our effort to proclaim the value of Marriage and Holy Orders in the Church and in the world."

Leadership teams from six continents met in Rome for the annual gathering of the World Council of Worldwide Marriage Encounter. In 2011, over 60,000 people experienced the life-giving Weekends in almost 100 countries around the world.

This year Worldwide Marriage Encounter is celebrating 40 years of ministry in Europe. The most recent expansion is to Russia where the first Weekends will be offered in April of 2012.

Tony & Cathy and Fr. Emile, expressed the hope that Worldwide Marriage Encounter would reach even more countries in the years ahead. "The need to strengthen marriage and family throughout the world has never been greater," they stated.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter has been offering weekend experiences for over 43years and is considered the original faith-based marriage enrichment program. The programs are continually updated to keep abreast of changes in society, and WWME now offers evening and half-day programs that are presented at parishes and other church facilities. The weekend program, traditionally presented as an overnight experience at a hotel or retreat center, can also be presented at the parish where the couples return to their homes in the evenings. WWME has a presence in over 90 countries, which makes it the largest pro-marriage movement in the world. In North America, the WWME programs are presented in English, Spanish, French, and Korean languages.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter offers married couples the opportunity to spend time together away from the busyness of the world to focus on each other. It offers tools for building and maintaining a strong, Christian marriage in today's world. To learn more about the Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends online, go to wwme.org, or you can call 1-800-795-LOVE (English) and 1-800-599-AMOR (Spanish), or contact the WWME Office at (909) 863-9963.

Praise from Pope Benedict XVI

Worldwide Marriage Encounter Receives Strong Support and Praise from Pope Benedict XVI Contact: Dick and Diane Baumbach, 321-544-3440; Tom and Katie Watson, 303-503-9756; Worldwide Marriage Encounter

ROME, Italy, Feb. 14 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Pope Benedict XVI speaking here recently at an audience with Worldwide Marriage Encounter leaders from across the world made strong comments in support of the movement.

"Marriage Encounter, yes! You are doing such important work in our church, especially in this world we live in," Pope Benedict said as he spoke with David & Bronny Lea and Fr. John Rate, Worldwide Marriage Encounter International Coordinating Team.

The pope went on to say, "I will pray for you and your movement."

Tony & Cathy Witczak and Fr. Emile Frische, MHM, United States Secretariat Team, also attended the audience. "It was truly exciting to be part of Pope Benedict's audience with our WWME leadership from across the world. His words will serve us as an inspiration as we help lead the movement in the United States," the ecclesial team said.

Coordinating couples and priests from all over the world came together in Rome for the World Council meeting of WWME in January 2008. The meeting is held annually at various locations across the globe.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends start on a Friday evening and end on Sunday afternoon. Participants hear presentations by a couple and a priest and later write their thoughts and feelings to share in the privacy of their room. There is no group discussion. Weekends are held in various locations, including hotels and retreat centers.

There is a cost for the weekend, but in the 40 year history of Worldwide Marriage Encounter, no couple has ever been turned away from attending a weekend because of lack of money.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter is a non-profit organization and all donations from the weekend are used to continue offering additional weekends throughout the country and the world.

Married couples who want to learn more about making their "good marriages, better" can find Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends that are presented all over the United States.

To learn more about the Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends you can call 1-800-795-LOVE or go online to www.wwme.org or call the national office at (909) 863-9963.

Upcoming 2012 Weekends

Mar 23 - 25 Franciscan Center

Apr 20-22 Holiday Inn Express

Other Weekends for 2012

For general questions about World Wide Marriage Encounter of Tampa Bay contact Area Coordinators
Dave and Lucy Snyder

For weekend reservation information call Pat & Debbie Powers 813-270-7832 Or contact them by email

For a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend outside the Tampa Bay area: Call 1-800-795-LOVE or Visit the WWME National Site

Special Links

>> World Marriage Day

>> World Priest Day

>> A Brief History

>> Weekend Survey

>> Words from Pope Benedict

>> Diocese of Saint Petersburg

WWME Links

>> WWME National Site

>> WWME Section 5

Related Links

>> Encounter Resource Library

>> For Your Marriage

>> Married and in Love

>> Retrouvaille

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