Worldwide Marriage Encounter

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Worldwide Marriage Encounter ( Italian Incontri matrimoniali mondiali ; abbreviations: ME or WWME ) is an association of believers recognized by the Holy See and was founded in the United States in 1965 ; it is represented in over 90 countries worldwide.

history

At the beginning of 1952, Father Gabriel Manuel Calvo SJ developed a group work for married couples in Spain . Joint group evenings, meetings and holy masses were organized, the groups were called “couples groups of Pope Pius XII. " designated. Ten years later the work of the groups expanded beyond the borders of Spain and the first weekend for married couples was successfully completed in Barcelona . In 1966 the first international "gathering of Christian families" took place in Caracas ( Venezuela ) and the movement expanded to South America and to Spanish-speaking Catholic spouses in the USA . In 1967, the US meeting consisted of 50 couples and 29 priests . In the USA the Jesuit Father Chuck Gallagher took over the spiritual and spiritual direction and organized the first weekend for married couples in 1968, this was the year of birth of the "Worldwide Marriage Encounter". The "National Marriage Encounters", the meetings founded on the national level, became independent organizations and voluntarily joined the worldwide encounters. In 1969 further meetings took place in the USA and Canada , in 1971 meetings from Belgium and England followed. This development continued and 2010 belonged to the worldwide association of believers over 90 countries.

Self-image

The guiding principle of the association is the words of Jesus Christ “As I have loved you” ( Jn 13.34  EU ). From this derives the self- image of understanding marriage as a sacrament . The priests are expressly involved in these marital relationships as relatives. Understanding each other in marriage, talking to each other and loving each other is the top priority in an encounter. As a lived sacrament, marriage should give a sign and thus act as a witness and example in the community of the church . Their area of life and lifestyle extends to marriage, family, community, and work .

In order to realize this guiding principle, the ME offers weekends for married couples, where they can ask questions and look to God as a married couple and as a couple. The weekends are led by a team consisting of a priest and two to three married couples, these people give public witness . Each couple answers the questions individually; there are no discussions in the group. Participants in weekend courses can then meet at regular intervals in small groups to exchange experiences and make further suggestions.

Organization and expansion

The WWME is divided into local, diocesan , regional and national leadership teams . These teams consist of a priest and a married couple. The international coordination team is responsible worldwide, including the 7 ecclesiastical equipes that represent the secretariats in Africa , Asia , the USA, Canada, Latin America and Oceania . The movement is headquartered in Coyoacán ( Mexico ). Germany is connected to the world association with ME-Germany, Austria with ME-Austria.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The association calls itself worldwide "Marriage Encounter" (ME) [1]
  2. ↑ Father Charles (Chuck) Gallagher [2]
  3. ↑ "... love one another! As I have loved you, you too should love one another. "
  4. ↑ From: Marriage Encounter in the Archdiocese of Freiburg [3]
  5. ^ Marriage Encounter Germany [4]
  6. ^ Marriage Encounter Austria [5]

Web links