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eMatrimony.org Supporting, Encouraging, and Challenging the WWME Community |
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| Love Letters - Leadership Meet the New World Council Coordinating Team Bob & Joy Hernandez and Fr. Chuck Kosanke Dear faithful friends, Praise God for a Spirit-filled, prayerful Selection Process for our International Coordinating Team (ICT) for the WWME World Council! The Council was fortunate to have four couples and seven priests who were open to the Process. Only one priest was actually present at the Process as he also serves as a member of a Secretariat ecclesial team who was participating in the World Council. Due to financial considerations, candidates are rarely present for the Selection Process. Each member of the Council is given a written biography of the candidates, including a photo. After reading the biography, we listen to a 10 minute audio presentation from the candidates. As in every Selection Process, there is time for prayer, discernment, music, and dialogue as an ecclesial team. The Process was an enriching experience and we felt the influence of the Holy Spirit among us. Thank you for your prayers and good wishes. Our new ICT for 2005-2008 is David & Bronwyn (Bronny) Lea from Pahiatua, New Zealand and Fr. John Rate from Randwick, Australia. David & Bronny were married in May 1973 and have two adult daughters. They experienced their Weekend in 1984. They were the National Team for New Zealand from 1993-1995 and the Pacific Secretariat leadership from 1995-1998. David’s primary personality style is Catalyst and Bronny’s is Helper. David is one of eight children; Bronny is from a family of nine children. They met as youngsters and have been members of the same parish for all their lives. They are both interested in theater and performing arts. Fr. John was ordained in May 1973 in the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC). He is currently a parish priest for Our Lady of the Sacred Heart parish in Randwick, Australia. He speaks English, French, and some Italian. Fr. John made his Weekend in November 1982. He served as a member of the Pacific Secretariat Team from 2002-2004 and as a member of the ICT from 1990-1991. He has presented Retrouvaille and Cursillo experiences. His primary personality style is Helper. We feel excited to be able to share our ministry and our leadership with three gifted and passionate people and look forward to the next World Council in Canada in September. Please pray for David & Bronny and Fr. John as they begin their ecclesial relationship for the sake of our movement and our Church. Our time in Kenya was extraordinary! Kenya has a very diverse population that includes most major language groups of Africa. About 75% of the work force is engaged in agriculture, mainly as subsistence farmers. The primary language is English & Swahili, but there are more than 40 local ethnic languages! The religion is Protestant 40%, Roman Catholic 30%, Muslim 20%, and indigenous beliefs 10%. The World Council was hosted in a beautiful pastoral setting at St. Mary Magdalene Retreat House at Resurrection Gardens in a suburb of Nairobi named Karen. Sr. Felista Wamutitu, a Dimesse sister, looked after our needs. She told us repeatedly how much she “loves Marriage Encounter”! The local WWME community treated us to a fascinating tour to Lake Nakuru National Park where we were able to view many animals in their natural habitat—rhino, African buffalo, giraffe, zebra, lion, baboon, and thousands of pink flamingos, storks, and pelicans! We met members of the Maasai tribe who retain their traditional dress and culture despite the intrusion of modern civilization. The closing Mass on Saturday was a never-to-be-forgotten experience! Many of the couples rode a crowded bus for 6-8 hours over very rocky roads in dust and heat just to be present with us. We were often moved to tears as we looked around the church at our beautiful worldwide family! We will send photos to eMatrimony as soon as possible, so please take time to visit the site. We are so grateful for your continued presence in our lives and in our leadership. We are sustained by your belief in us and lifted up by your prayers. May God bless you in your ministry for his beloved Church. With much love, Bob & Joy and Fr. Chuck Click here for a printable page (PDF, 10KB)
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