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  News - National

WWME Meeting With the USCCB Committee
On Marriage & Family

Bob & Joy Hernandez

Dear WWME Family,

We have a follow up to share with you about our meeting in September 2004 with the United States Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Marriage & Family. Early in 2005, a member of the Committee, Sheila Garcia, requested permission to facilitate a Focus Group with WWME couples at our 2005 National Convention. The purpose was to elicit information about the experience of Catholic married couples that could be helpful to the USCCB as they undertake a multi-year National Pastoral Initiative on Marriage. We were happy to comply!

We gathered couples for the Focus Group with varying ages and experiences of marriage. We are very grateful to Scott & Karen Seaborn, Jesus & Aurora Rojas, Jerry & Fran Ashe, Dan & Mary Sterling, and Bob & Michelle Dooley who, with us, shared openly and honestly to the questions posed by Sheila Garcia. We also invited Bishop Joseph Kurtz, Bishop of Knoxville and Chairman-elect of the Committee on Marriage & Family and Bishop Jack Kaising, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Military Services and our WWME Episcopal Moderator. Fr Chuck, of course, and Fr. Dennis Koopman, OFM were also present.

The Focus Group was two hours and provided many insights into both the blessings and the struggles of married life. Sheila was overwhelmed by the intimacy of the sharing and the trust exhibited by all the couples—as were our Bishops! Bishop Kurtz said his experience of the “real life” of Catholic married couples would be very helpful in his new role as Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Marriage and Family Life.

We feel so proud of all the couples who participated in the Focus Group! Having been in WWME for 28 years, we sometimes underestimate the awesome power that simply sharing our love story can have on others! Our hearts were touched many times during the sharing. We are confident that our Bishops were moved, as well.

We believe strongly that our beloved movement will continue to be a valued resource that our Church will rely on for the renewal of the Sacrament of Matrimony and the Sacrament of Holy Orders. We ARE changing the world!

With much love,

Bob & Joy and Fr. Chuck

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