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Lighting the Way Together
Maine's Early Marriage Encounter Apostles

Fr. Joe McKenna

(Excerpted from Maine’s Encounter Spirit)

Dear Lovers,

Until I just read Fr. Bob’s article in the latest Encounter Spirit, I did not know that John Young had died. The feeling is like opening the refrigerator door and finding nothing inside... no food, no shelves, no drawers; just an empty white space.

John and his beloved Nat (Natalie) were a very special couple not only for Maine but for far beyond. The amount of good that happened through them is literally incalculable. They were enthusiastically into Marriage Encounter when it was new. They attracted hundreds of couples (and in those days scores of priests) to make a Weekend. Then, on the Weekend itself, their mature, wise understanding of the spiritual dynamics taking place drew everybody in.

There is no way I can adequately describe Nat. She was unique. A convert from Congregationalism, her understanding of the Church and Mass and Matrimony was just incredible. Thank God I listened to her. She could qualify as a Doctor of the Church like St. Thérèse of Lisieux, if the Ecclesiastical powers that be were presently enjoying a period of common sense.

And all of this great wisdom was wrapped in the most attractive party-like demeanor because she knew that, yes, Jesus died a horrible death on the cross, but it was so that we could enjoy the state of grace that He gave us.

After they felt too old to be an “attractive” couple for Marriage Encounter, they were instrumental in helping Father Peter McGrath of Australia in establishing Family Groups in parishes in Maine. It was in the midst of this new venture that Nat came down with cancer. And John was her ever loving “prince consort,” who visited her every day in the hospital during her last illness.

John & Nat are two of the people I will want to meet at first, if and when I ever get up there, because I’m sure that Jesus was right there to meet them when they arrived.

Fr. Joe McKenna

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