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- Convention
Reflections on the WWME 25th Anniversary
Convention
Rex & Pauline Pattison
What Did We See/Experience?
by Rex & Pauline Pattison, Markham, Ontario,
Canada
(Excerpted from Winter
1994 Matrimony magazine)
Friday Night
- couples arriving in pouring rain to register, tired but full of
anticipation;
- a frantic scramble to get food before the opening at 8 p.m.;
- a seething mass of people noisily meeting old friends and making
new contacts and finding places to sit;
- the introductions promising a great Convention,
- Chuck Gallagher reflecting on the beginnings and the past 25 years
of Marriage Encounter;
- letters of support from the Vatican, the Governor of New Jersey
and President Clinton; -Bishop Hugh's speech of encouragement;
- Benediction;
- gathering in "a pub with no beer" before hitting the
sack!
Saturday (Room Sessions)
- thousands of priests and couples moving between campus buildings
like blood corpuscles in capillaries;
- a sense of wariness as we assessed our presentation trio and our
fellow candidates;
- concentration during the presentations, dialogues and sharing
sessions;
- the joy of being able to share with strangers in an atmosphere
of love, trust and acceptance;
- the specialness of the Eucharist marking the end of the small
group sessions;
- groups in corners debating where to go for supper.
Saturday Evening (Full Session)
- the impression of unity as nearly 6,000 people came together to
rejoice and celebrate;
- the awesome sight, sound and color of so many excited and energetic
couples and priests;
- bands of blue t-shirts wherever we looked;
- the living and vibrant proof of the Worldwide aspect of Marriage
Encounter as the flags of 91 nations were paraded into the arena;
- songs, noise, brotherhood, excitement!
- the appearance of Don Quixote and Aldonza introducing a video
of the living history of WWME;
- celebration as couples representing each of the 25 years paraded
with signs displaying each year;
- the year signs being turned to display “WE ARE CHANGING
THE WORLD''
- dashing to the car in more pouring rain;
- a pub with beer, a preponderance of blue T-shirts and fantastic
desserts leading us into the early hours of the next day.
Sunday
- The Eucharist celebrated by 2500 couples, 250 priests and four
bishops;
- a homily based on Peter walking on the water, and the suggestion
that two things are needed focus to succeed: keep our eyes on Christ
and support each other;
- the encouragement of Bishop Hughes whose vision was that all priests
could feel the love displayed in the arena that day, and that all
priests would realize the desperate need for our movement in today's
world!
- the procession of clergy out of the arena and the final singing
of "There's a New World Somewhere."
- the reluctant goodbyes;
- reflecting on the experience as we headed for home.
What Did We Feel?
Awe - as we experienced the charisma and dedication
of Chuck Gallagher.
Fellowship - as we joined the enthusiasm and love
of friends and strangers.
Brotherhood - when a Korean priest who unwittingly
jay-walked on the road in front of us turned and gave us a grin
followed by the M.E. sign.
Happiness - as people joked and laughed and rejoiced
in the absurd.
Inspiration - as we heard the repeated sound of
the Eucharist being celebrated in each and every room around us.
Pride - as we saw blue T-shirts in patches in every
sector of the auditorium.
Warmth and fellowship - as we shared experiences
with couples from other countries and cultures.
A Childlike sense of awe and wonder - at the stunningly
delicate and doll-like quality of the Asian women in their colorful
national costumes.
A sense of the ridiculous - at the groups wearing
Mickey Mouse ears and bright green foam rubber Statue of Liberty
head gear.
Compassion - as couples rushed to help whenever
difficulties arose.
Tenderness - at the sight of a couple with a tiny
baby in their arms lead a priest to his station for communion.
Companionship - at the sight of the priests filing
in for mass and waving to their wildly cheering groups.
Camaraderie - as a human chain formed spontaneously
to assist couples in clambering over seats to return to their places
after communion.
Pride - when a collection raised $14,000 for the
poor of the Archdiocese.
Sadness - that it all had to end.
Hope - in the conviction that this wasn't an end
but a new beginning.
Fellowship - as we met another couple from the
convention at a diner on the way home.
Thankfulness - as we realized how lucky we were
to be able to witness this wonderful celebration of God's love.
What Needs Were Being Met?
Love - from each and ever person on the campus;
it even spilled out and had an effect on the townspeople as thousands
of crazy people congregated in every eating place for miles.
Belonging - This was not a group of strangers such
as you would get at a sports event - this was a homogenous group
from many lands and cultures who were ONE. Helping hands came from
complete strangers as did hugs. Old friendships were renewed and
new ones made. One felt incredibly SAFE!
Self-Worth - from a conviction that we are doing
something incredibly worthwhile, even important to the world, and
that God has given us the talents to do this job.
Autonomy - with the realization that the final
choice to continue or not is ours to make.
What Did We See Ourselves Doing?
We saw ourselves being drawn into the realization that the impossible
IS being done, that this really lS a worldwide movement and that
so much has been achieved through dedication, trust in God and sacrifice.
We came to believe that we HAVE already changed the world and can
continue to do so.
When we realized all this had happened without a paid organization,
with sometimes indifferent support from the Church, and with all
the human frailties among our leadership, we could only conclude
that the Holy Spirit has to be with us all the way.
What Can We Do Better?
Our resolution is to keep the memories of the Convention fresh
in our minds, to pray for guidance and strength and to put our energies
and talents where the spirit leads us. We will keep in mind that
for a brief moment we saw a bit of the world as it should be, and
we will continue to strive to bring that opportunity for change
to the couples around us.
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