MALAWI: Catholic Church to Celebrate Marriage Encounter Anniversary
Malawi’s
Marriage Encounter, a lay Christian Family Movement of the Catholic Church will
on Saturday, September 12, celebrate the 30th anniversary for the
Worldwide Marriage Encounter WWME, the national couple Godfrey and Selina
Mwenelupembe and national team Priest, Fr. Jos Kuppens have confirmed.
Marriage Encounter, a lay Christian Family Movement of the Catholic Church will
on Saturday, September 12, celebrate the 30th anniversary for the
Worldwide Marriage Encounter WWME, the national couple Godfrey and Selina
Mwenelupembe and national team Priest, Fr. Jos Kuppens have confirmed.
According to
Godfrey Mwenelupembe, the anniversary celebrations will be held at St. Pius
Parish in the Archdiocese of Blantyre and the main activity of the day will be the
Holy Mass.
Godfrey Mwenelupembe, the anniversary celebrations will be held at St. Pius
Parish in the Archdiocese of Blantyre and the main activity of the day will be the
Holy Mass.
“We have
invited various dignitaries including senior clergy in the church, government
officials as well as members of the movement locally and internationally. Other
family movements in the Church have also been invited,” reads the invitation
letter co-signed by the National Ecclesial Team in Malawi comprised of Godfrey
and Selina Mwenelupembe with Fr. Kuppens.
invited various dignitaries including senior clergy in the church, government
officials as well as members of the movement locally and internationally. Other
family movements in the Church have also been invited,” reads the invitation
letter co-signed by the National Ecclesial Team in Malawi comprised of Godfrey
and Selina Mwenelupembe with Fr. Kuppens.
Mr.
Mwenelupembe said Worldwide Marriage Encounter is one of the Christian family
movements in Malawi whose vision is “Love one another as I have loved you”
whereas its mission is to proclaim the value of Marriage and Holy Orders in the
Church and in the world.
Mwenelupembe said Worldwide Marriage Encounter is one of the Christian family
movements in Malawi whose vision is “Love one another as I have loved you”
whereas its mission is to proclaim the value of Marriage and Holy Orders in the
Church and in the world.
“According
to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a charism is a specific gift or grace
of the Holy Spirit which directly or indirectly benefits the Church, given in
order to help a person live out the Christian life or to serve the common good
in building up the Church,” said Mr. Mwenelupembe.
to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a charism is a specific gift or grace
of the Holy Spirit which directly or indirectly benefits the Church, given in
order to help a person live out the Christian life or to serve the common good
in building up the Church,” said Mr. Mwenelupembe.
He said
Worldwide Marriage Encounter offers married couples, priests and religious an
experience of deepening relationships in a Catholic tradition.
Worldwide Marriage Encounter offers married couples, priests and religious an
experience of deepening relationships in a Catholic tradition.
“Our name
defines who we are (worldwide) and what we do (encounter another). “Worldwide”
means open to all, but it also reflects our unity throughout the world,
Wherever Worldwide Marriage Encounter is present, there is conformity to the
same concepts and values.
defines who we are (worldwide) and what we do (encounter another). “Worldwide”
means open to all, but it also reflects our unity throughout the world,
Wherever Worldwide Marriage Encounter is present, there is conformity to the
same concepts and values.
“Marriage”
refers to the spousal relationship between a married man and woman. In the
wider sense, it also refers to the spousal relationship of priests and
religious with the people of God. “Encounter” means “to meet” and it reflects
the exposure of married couples and priests to the full meaning of their
sacrament as they meet each other and Christ within their sacramental
relationships,” he said.
refers to the spousal relationship between a married man and woman. In the
wider sense, it also refers to the spousal relationship of priests and
religious with the people of God. “Encounter” means “to meet” and it reflects
the exposure of married couples and priests to the full meaning of their
sacrament as they meet each other and Christ within their sacramental
relationships,” he said.
The story of
Marriage Encounter began in 1952 when a young priest in Spain, Father Gabriel
Calvo, began developing a series of conferences for married couples, whose
focus was on the development of an open and honest relationship within marriage
and learning to live out a sacramental relationship in the service of others.
Marriage Encounter began in 1952 when a young priest in Spain, Father Gabriel
Calvo, began developing a series of conferences for married couples, whose
focus was on the development of an open and honest relationship within marriage
and learning to live out a sacramental relationship in the service of others.
In Malawi,
WWME began in 1985 by the Late Bishop Matthias A. Chimole of Lilongwe, (may his
soul continue to rest in peace), and has continued to grow in membership as
well as in activities of being visible signs of Christ in the families,
community, church and parishes. So far there are about 700 encountered
families, 19 encountered priests and 18 encountered religious sisters.
WWME began in 1985 by the Late Bishop Matthias A. Chimole of Lilongwe, (may his
soul continue to rest in peace), and has continued to grow in membership as
well as in activities of being visible signs of Christ in the families,
community, church and parishes. So far there are about 700 encountered
families, 19 encountered priests and 18 encountered religious sisters.
By Prince Henderson, ECM Communications
Officer
Officer
