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Reflections on Our Journey to Rutgers
and the 25th WWME Anniversary Convention.

Sue & Rick Boryk

(Excerpted from Fall 1993 Matrimony magazine)

In reminiscing about our weekend at the 25th Anniversary Convention at Rutgers University, I realized how quickly I forgot that passion, that devotion, and all the "living stones" who awakened me to remembering our dream. I, Sue Boryk, was a tag-along at the convention. I am the wife of Rick Boryk, the Matrimony staff artist. When we were invited to attend the convention to represent Matrimony Magazine, by editors Ken & Gretchen Lovingood and Fr. Bill Ortmann, I didn't see my purpose. My low self-worth was in strong force. Rick is the artist, I thought, what do I do? Well, I was wrong. Once we got there, I was enlightened to my purpose at "Companions on a Journey". I was there to reignite that flame in our dream and get out of disillusionment. As soon as we got to the RAC (Rutgers Athletic Center) where the 5000 of us gathered as one, I thought we were on holy ground. I have never experienced so much love from strangers.

Barriers were out in strong force. When we arrived we discovered that our anniversary issues of Matrimony, all 2500, where shipped to Santa Barbara, Calif. by mistake. Our editors and friends, Ken & Gretchen and family, had to return to California as Ken's father died. We didn't know where to find our booth materials for set-up. Convention workers were helpful, but gave us a good run throughout the campus. Even with the pouring rain and these barriers, God sent us a loving couple from Texas who co-assisted Dan & Yolanda Hirsch, our other Matrimony staff members, and us. It's amazing to see the gifts of giving in strangers bonded by Marriage Encounter.

Friday, later in the evening but before convention opened, we picked up a hitchhiker. He was an elderly man, walking alone carrying a large suitcase in the pouring rain. I made Rick stop the car and back up. We never pick up strangers, but somehow coming out of the RAC, he could not have been bad. We invited him in from the rain and offered him a ride to his living quarters. He turned out to be a priest, Fr. Ken Cunart S.J., from Cleveland, Ohio, our hometown as kids. I felt a buzzing inside of me like the Holy Spirit was starting His work.

Later that night we heard from our wonderful leader, Fr. Chuck Gallagher. The buzz words that stand out in my mind are, "Pray for passion". Passion in a sense of intimacy in our relationships with each other - not how many times we make love. He called us to be ourselves - ordinarily, but extraordinary in our passion. I had no idea the history behind the 25 years of Marriage Encounter this man had. He was not alone - the Couple Power of couples behind him was strong. They are the "living stones" of this movement. They are the ones who made many people stop and shakeup their easy going lives for God and our relationships. To all of you pioneers and life long disciples - Thank you for saying yes and bringing the dream to us, 25 years later.

Saturday morning we ran into Fr. Ken again. We missed our scheduled breakfast time due to all our passion the night before. I can't help but think that somehow we have a mission with this priest - the Holy Spirit continued to place him in our path all weekend. We exchanged cards and invited him to our Mission at Santa Barbara to give a weekend.

Our small group section was led by Fr. Tom of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Paul & Ellen Dillard from northern Virginia. I related to Paul & Ellen's struggles for developing community. Our local sharing group had slowly stopped meeting. The "too busies" got in all our way. I was in disillusionment. I was tired of hearing the "whiners", the chronic complainers, the ones who wanted to coast by comfortably. Our group wanted someone else to do the work. Not one of us risked or confronted the issue. We all coasted the last six months and stopped meeting. None of us were living stones. Paul & Ellen and Fr. Tom woke me up. I was too comfortable.

I coasted, hoping the world wouldn't call on me. Living "God's Plan" and acting as a living stone calls me to wake-up. Wake up and be responsible to call on our relationship and our community for change. The world is a mess, and a couple and community of love is hope for the ''modern world".

We learned that daily dialogue is our tool to strengthen ourselves. Together with prayer we can see what change may come about in our lifestyles and that of our community. I must constantly remind myself to have faith and thanksgiving that God will provide us with what is needed in our saying yes. Yes to dialogue and our recommitment to live God’s plan.

Later Saturday or Sunday I remember Mary Anne Boylan calling me to be responsible for my unmet needs. Not Rick to take ownership, but me. I must make my needs known and not just fantasized. I can still see Mary Anne telling us another story on her own commitment. She said someone called her to stop sitting on the fence. "Either you are on one side or you are off – not just sitting there half way” She certainly is one moving woman to get me off that fence! Thank you, Mary Anne.

Sunday at the RAC was Rick and my highlight of the convention along with Saturday’s parade of 91 national flags, the flags of all the countries where Marriage Encounter weekends are held. It is a worldwide movement and truly believable that “We can change the world". Not one kept their seats. The roar of excitement was only topped by the standing ovation applause in thanksgiving to our 200 plus Marriage Encounter priests attending. Rick and I were brought to tears at their dedication to us and God. When we gathered for mass, I felt truly blessed to be a part of such a wonderful Movement as Marriage Encounter.

After the closing ceremonies, we were again reunited and embraced by Frs. Ken, Bill and Joe. Fr. Ken - a new friend, Fr. Bill - an old friend, and Fr. Joe the priest who gave our original Marriage Encounter weekend. Rick & I were like a needle in a hay stack but somehow ran into these loving people. Thank you to all priests.

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