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eMatrimony.org Supporting, Encouraging, and Challenging the WWME Community |
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| News - Section / Local Welcome New Section 2 Leadership Mike & Mary Gibbons & Fr. Emile Frische Section 2 Ecclesial Team
Mike & Mary Gibbons We were married on April 23, 1977 and we made our weekend on February 13-15 1998. We have 3 children. Our oldest daughter, Katie, is age 23 and a brand new school teacher. Our son, Mike, is age 19 and a freshman in College. And our youngest daughter, Colleen, age 14, is a freshman in High School. From the time we experienced our Weekend we have had the hope and dream of spreading the good news to all couples that Jesus is alive in the world through their Sacraments. We believe that the world can and does change when the power of love is ignited through the Sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders. Our hope and dream as Section 2 leaders is that each unique Sacrament in New York blooms and shines as examples of Gods love alive in the world. We hope we and Fr. Emile will carry the charge of the 2004 convention to be modern day apostles of love!
Weekend date: August 14-16, 1998, Comfort Inn, Nanuet, New York. I belong to the Mill Hill Missionaries - the English national missionary society, founded in 1866 by Cardinal Herbert Vaughan. After Ordination, I was sent to Miri Diocese, Sarawak, East Malaysia (on the island of Borneo). I had to leave there in 1984. I left my heart there with the Kenyah people, but reclaimed it when I went back for a visit in 2002 - enriched, blessed, joy-filled. From Borneo I was stationed at our Seminary in Mill Hill, London, doing vocations work for a couple of years. I was then called to be part of the formation staff, for 2 years. Following this, I was rector of the seminary for 6 years. Very interesting times and a great education for me. Had a year in Rome after that - at the Angelicum, studying spirituality. It was while I was in Rome that I was 'dialogued' to come to the USA. Joined the Mill Hill Community in Hartsdale, and served in the Evangelization office of the Archdiocese of New York for 3 years. It was during this time that I was 'conned' into going on a marriage Encounter Weekend !!! Headed the Parish Mission Team in the Archdiocese for one year after that. Was invited by Cardinal Egan to be the Coordinator for Special Ministries in the Archdiocese after that year with the Mission Team. That's what I'm doing now - looking after 5 departments: Intercultural Council, Ethnic Affairs, Chinese Ministry, Lay Ecclesial Movements, Women's Concerns. Sort of keeps me out of mischief ! I'm living at Holy Family Parish in Manhattan - right around the corner from the United Nations. I serve in the parish and share duties here. I love it here. Great people. Marriage Encounter has opened up my life, letting me see that I need to be in relationship with others and not just keep the nose to the grindstone, apart from my people. I'm learning to accept the affirmation people give me as they relate the gifts I have and share with them. Mike & Mary Gibbons and I were selected on March 6th, 2004. What a day that was. Bob and Joy Hernandez led us through a Spirit-filled day, and at the end of it, we said YES. The sharing of the Dreams and Vision was a sacred time for me. The principal dream for me in my ministry in Marriage Encounter is that our Church becomes and ALIVE Church, where our people will want to come together to celebrate Eucharist, and then BECOME Eucharist in every day life for others. I dream that the term "Modern Day Apostle" will not remain a title or name, but becomes a way of living out our mission in the Church and in the world. I dream of all of us spending time daily at the foot of the Cross, recognizing all that Jesus has gone through for us, and that we come from there knowing we share in the glory of the Resurrection - that WE ARE a Life-giving people. Impossible dreams? No. All possible. You gotta believe! Hopes, vision: that we always remember that we are a people on mission. That we never be comfortable with what we have or where we are - there is always more. Interdependence is important to me - and I still need to learn that value for myself. Believing that we are called to be Jesus alive in the world today sums up a lot of what I have been trying to say. When I really realize that, then there is no stopping me/us changing the world, one couple, one priest at a time. While I was sharing all that, the image of the Vine and Branches came through very strong for me - I constantly need to see my giftedness as a 'branch' securely attached to the Vine. I'm still a 'baby' when it comes to Marriage Encounter ministry. But, all the people who have touched my life along the journey so far, are forming me and helping me to grow up. There are so many here in the Archdiocese of New York, so many in the other areas of Section 2 helping me along. I am in good hands. And, together with Mike and Mary, I know that I'm going to have a real adventure for the next couple of years as Section Leaders for section2. We have BIG shoes to fill. But then I told Bob and Melinda Nobbs [the outgoing Section 2 Executive couple] that they would need their shoes, as I was expecting them to journey along with us. I'm excited - like the first time I stepped out of the boat way up there in the jungle parish of Long San, seeing the Kenyah people for the first time and realizing that I was placing myself into their hands for the years ahead, to form me and teach me, so that we could discover the God within each of us. That's pretty neat, eh? What a journey. Click here for a printable page (PDF, 68KB)
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