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2003 Convention Roundup - July 25-27, DeKalb, Illinois

You Have To Believe! Convention News

2003 Convention highlights and pictures...

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Dan & Cheryl Montgomery

We Are Called To Know God - Convention Presentation 1

Jorge & Monica Aguilera and Fr. José A. Bautista gave the following first of three presentations, We Are Called to Know God, at the 2003 Convention in DeKalb, Illinois. Jorge: "For us to become like our Lord Jesus Christ was, it is necessary to know Him, to look for His closeness through our personal prayer, praying as families, as couples. Our prayer is our intimate way to get close to God, to become his/her friend, to follow His footsteps. In this way we can become Jesus alive today."

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Fr. José Bautista and Monica & Jorge Aguilera

We Are Called To Love God - Convention Presentation 2

Gil & Rose Apodaca and Fr. Dennis Koopman gave the following second of three presentations, We Are Called to Love God, at the 2003 Convention in DeKalb, Illinois. Fr. Dennis: "Jesus tells us very clearly that we cannot just wish someone well, but that we must take action to help and assist that person in their need. The action to which we are called is "to love God with our whole mind, our whole heart and with our whole being; and then to love our neighbor as ourselves!"

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Fr. Dennis Koopman and Rose & Gil Apodaca

We Are Called To Serve God - Convention Presentation 3

Ron & Judy Pekny and Fr. Mark Willenbring gave the following third of three presentations, We Are Called to Serve God, at the 2003 Convention in DeKalb, Illinois. Judy: "We are called by God and our Church to feed His sheep. We have been blessed with the gift of our Marriage Encounter Weekend to help us know how to do that. Our Weekend does not call us to just go home and hug our kids and focus exclusively on our relationship - nor does it send us forth into the world alone, weighted down by all our human weaknesses. It is God who sends us forth, armed with the power of our sacrament and the charisms He has chosen especially for us. He is not just asking us to perform a few good deeds along the way, but is challenging us to offer our charisms as gifts to a lonely world that is crying out for relationship."

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Fr. Mark Willenbring and Judy & Ron Pekny

World Council Convention Presentation

World Council leaders Lee & Jan Kremer and Fr. Rich O'Brien offer their 2003 WWME Convention presentation in its entirety for your use. What a great way to let all of the lovers in your community who could not attend have a taste of the Convention and hear from our World Council leaders.

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Fr. Rich O'Brien and Jan & Lee Kremer

Fr. Emile Frische's Homily, Saturday, July 26, 2003 - You Have To Believe

The theme of the 2003 WWME Convention, You Have To Believe, was emphasized by Fr. Emile Frische in the Saturday homily. Fr. Frische: "Do we understand, do we realize, that we are called to GREATNESS? Do we realize that we are part of something really great and wonderful? So many have started out on this pilgrim way thousands of years ago. So many will continue this pilgrimage even after we have, hopefully, completed it. We are formed by those who have gone before us. We help form those who come after us. We have a tremendous responsibility, don't we? We CAN do it. You Have To Believe."

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Priests assembled at Mass, Saturday, July 26, 2003

Bishop Skylstad's Homily, Sunday, July 27, 2003

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Bishop William Skylstad

Never a Stranger in WWME

Fr. Dennis O'Brien was on his way to Convention 2003 when he was in a car accident. He went to be with the WWME Community, but as he shares here, he met Community on the way. Reprinted from the NW Florida WWME Newsletter.

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John & Sally Carson and Fr. Dennis O’Brien

Widower's perspective of WWME National Convention 2003

Widower Jim Bezy of Warren, MI shares his thoughts, feelings, and experience attending the 2003 World Wide Marriage Encounter convention in DeKalb, IL

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Jim & Ella Bezy