By Rev. Terence Patrick Rooney
Western Unit Supporting Priest | Worldwide Marriage Encounter, Bunbury Diocese WA
1: Your Apostolate
Worldwide Marriage Encounter has been operating in Australia for over four decades. The weekend retreat has been attended by millions of couples as well as clergy and religious who have found renewed faith and hope in the experience.
2: Pandemic Impact
Our Marriage Encounter Mission is “To proclaim the value of Marriage and Holy Orders in the church and the world” We do this through a weekend program and ongoing support through regular follow up support and meetings.
Couples with renewed understanding of their Sacrament, updated skills in living their relationship and renewed love and confidence are a rich resource in parish and community. They can help Parishes provide what “Amoris Laetitia” (The Joys of Love) urges parishes to provide in support of marriage and family. – – [ Marriage Preparation, ongoing enrichment for Newly Weds, Marriage in general; care for those in troubled marriages; helping parents pass on the living of faith to children.] – – Weekend now available in Live out form (Couples go home Saturday night) and Virtual Form (by internet)
World Wide Marriage Encounter Australia could do more with recognition and encouragement and support from the wider church ( Bishops, Priests; Parish leaders, parish councils).
3: Priority Issues
Marriage and Marriages be held in higher esteem as Sacraments – – for the each couple and family, but also for their parish and community and wider church.
That they be valued as promoters of evangelisation – – especially in the area of the first commandment, love. [When evangelisation is a topic Baptism and often Confirmation are mentioned, I have never seen the Sacrament of Marriage mentioned in this context]
There used to be a preface for marriage which unfortunately has been omitted in recent revisions: We thank God for “Creating us in love to share your divine life. We see our high destiny in the love of husband and wife which bears the imprint of Your divine love – – – The love of husband and wife is made holy in the Sacrament of Marriage, and becomes the mirror of Your everlasting love” Why is this preface no longer in the Sacramentary?
The Sunday sessions for the M.E. weekend have very good input and helps for living with love in ways that reach out to others apart from family – – being open and apostolic – – vital members of the Body of Christ – – especially as couples. The official church doesn’t seem to appreciate the value of couples in their sacrament working together in ministries and organisations.
Another motion could be along the lines that there is a special richness in Priests and Married Couples working together as we do in M.E. And in parish efforts in Marriage Preparation and ongoing support for Marriage and family. Ordination and Marriage are Sacraments of relationship (love) – – as is suggested in our Living the Sacrament talk – – there is real benefit in us working as :”Companions on the Journey” Our working together can also be a safeguard against the abuse we hear so much about.
4: Plenary Proposal
That Marriage and Marriages be held in higher esteem as Sacraments – – for the each couple and family, but also for their parish and community and wider church.
That priests and couples working together in marriage ministry be encouraged and supported.
5: Signs of Hope
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Submitted by: Rev. Terence Patrick Rooney
Western Unit Supporting Priest | Worldwide Marriage Encounter, Bunbury Diocese WA
https://www.wwme.org.au/
27/09/2021
