Worldwide Marriage Encounter. (Lay Movements XVIII).

The roots of Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WME) began in 1952 when a young priest, Fr. Gabriel Calvo, set up a series of conferences in Spain to help couples enrich their marriage. In 1967 the weekend conferences spread to the United States, starting with couples from the Christian Family Movement.

By 1969 Catholic couples from New York, along with Fr. Chuck Gallagher S.J., took the original program and expanded it across the United States, into Canada, and internationally. It became incorporated as WME and is officially recognized as a movement in the Church.

WME's basic philosophy rests on the belief that the Sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders are a call to unity for couples and priests. Couples not only receive the Sacrament but their relationship becomes a sacramental sign to others. Similarly the priest is called to live an intimate and responsible role with his people.

Validly married couples, and priests, are invited to attend a Weekend which is led by three married couples and a priest. A series of presentations is given, involving a sharing of some aspect of the presenter's own relationship, concluding with a question for personal reflection and private discussion between husband and wife.

After the Weekend, follow-up programs are offered, as well as support communities where the values of Christian marriage are nurtured. Couples are also encouraged to become involved in their local parishes in areas such as Marriage Preparation, Natural Family Planning, and other couple ministries.

At the heart of WME's philosophy is the belief that the Sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders are powerful and precious gifts given by God to the Church and that we have a responsibility to use these gifts for others.

WME has expanded to 83 countries of the world, and twelve Protestant faith expressions have adopted the format for their members. For Catholics, affiliation with WME requires a commitment of fidelity to the worldwide outline, all presenting team members must be Catholic, and a priest must be part of the presenting team.

WME is not for seriously troubled marriages. Another program entitled Retrouvaille, which follows a similar format but deals with more difficult situations, is available to help couples who need this type of assistance.

At present WME is operative in the following areas of Canada: BC (New Westminster, Vancouver), AB (St. Isidore), SK (Saskatoon, Watson), ON (Cayuga, Cornwall, St. Catharines, Toronto), PQ (Ancinne-Lorette, Chicoutimi, Terrebonne), PE (Charlottetown), NB (Moncton), and NS (Louisdale).

The Canadian Board of Directors includes representative couples and priests from seven districts throughout Canada and the Caribbean. The Canadian Secretariat is led by Jim and Adele Longstaff (401 Cascade St., Saskatoon, SK, S7J 0M6, 306 - 931 - 0982 (fax 0952), e-mail <[e-mail]>) and Fr. Jean-Paul Vantroys, OMI, of St. Isidore, AB. WME in Canada has expanded to languages other than English, such as French, Spanish, Italian, and Korean. For further information visit the Canadian website, <www.wwmecanada.org>.

In today's society where marriage and priesthood are threatened, the WME Movement is more important than ever. Its mission is to renew the Sacrament of Matrimony and thus help to renew the Church. It happily sees itself as joining with other movements of similar values, each bringing its own gifts to the work of renewal--new life for the people of God.