FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 7, 2011

50 STATE WINNERS IN LONGEST MARRIED COUPLE PROJECT ANNOUNCED BY WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER

San Bernardino, CA – The 50 state winners of the Longest Married Couple Project sponsored by Worldwide Marriage Encounter, the original faith based marriage enrichment program in this country, were announced today.

“The number of years many of these couples are married is just awesome,” explained Scott and Karen Seaborn, the United States Leadership Team for WWME. The Seaborns serve with Fr. Tom Griffith, SVD, as the U.S. Ecclesial Team.

“There were 312 nominations from all 50 states,” the Seaborns explained, adding, “There were three couples married 80 years or longer nominated, along with 100 couples married 70 to 79 years and 155 couples married 60 to 69 years. What a testament to having a commitment to a long marriage!”

The longest married couple in the United States, based on the nominations submitted, is Marshall and Winnie Kuykendall of Lordsburg, NM. They will celebrate their 82 anniversary on Feb. 14, 2011. The Seaborns will be traveling to the Kuykendalls hometown on Feb. 12th to honor them at a special ceremony.

Individual state winners will be recognized and honored by couples involved with Worldwide Marriage Encounter, all across the country, over the Valentine’s weekend.

The list of state winners and their hometowns are as follows:

Alaska – 68 years - Ernie & Ruth Brooking, Anchorage AK;
Alabama – 70 years - Mr. & Mrs. Gerald J. Guillot, Sr., Chickasaw AL;
Arkansas – 70 years - Grady & Pauline Starr, Beebe AR;
Arizona – 62 years - Vivian and Rodulfo Rodriguera, Phoenix AZ;
California – 74 years - GK and Mildred Patterson, Strathmore CA;
Colorado – 67 years - Jean & Harvey Rusk, Westcliffe CO;
Connecticut – 71 years - Herman & Lucille DiPalma, New London CT;
Delaware – 71 years - Clinton & Mary Searl, Wilmington DE;
Florida – 70 years - Noah & Vernell Lockley, Apalachicola FL;
Georgia – 64 years - Dick & Gerry Plummer, Augusta GA;
Hawaii – 80 years - Ivan & Doris Nishimura, Oahu HI;
Iowa – 70 years -Emil & Dorothy Votroubek, Cedar Rapids IA;
Idaho – 72 years - Cody & Eula Abbott, Lewiston ID;
Illinois – 71 years - Willis & Mary Hamilton, Elmhurst IL;
Indiana – 71 years -William & Rita Babbitt, Beech Grove IN;
Kansas – 72 years -Frank & Lorena Brunell, Aurora KS;
Kentucky – 75 years - Leon & Mae Carter, Mayfield KY;
Louisiana – 80 years -Ralph & Dorothy Richards, Slidell LA;
Massachusetts – 63 years - Stuart & Dorothy Fisk, Russell MA;
Maryland – 65 years - Michael & Clara O'Hopp, Silver Spring MD;
Maine – 67 years - George & Lucile Stetson, Pitston ME;
Michigan – 70 years - Norm and Beulah Warner, Pigeon MI;
Minnesota – 73 years - Anthony & Rose Ament, St. Cloud MN;
Missouri – 74 years -Vincent & Marie Sanfilippo, St Louis MO;
Mississippi – 70 years - Thomas & Helen Haffey, Lexington MS;
Montana – 73 years - Steve and Ethel Wright, Great Falls MT;
North Carolina – 72 years - Floyd & Edna Waldroup, Hot Springs NC;
North Dakota – 71 years - Tony & Frances Hopfaus, Bismark ND;
Nebraska – 69 years - Harold & Neva Sullivan, Cortland NE;
New Hampshire – 72 years - Richmond & Geraldine Trainor, Littleton NH;
New Jersey – 73 years - Jack & Antonia Di Rienzo, Florence NJ;
New Mexico – 76 years - Alex & Tessie Franzoy, Salem NM;
Nevada – 69 years - Harold & Edith Cohen, Henderson NV;
New York – 70 years - Richard and Eletha Pestke, Hilton NY;
Ohio – 73 years - Karl & Isabelle Schumm, Convoy OH;
Oklahoma – 69 years - Charles & Mildred McGregor, Edmond OK;
Oregon – 74 years -Kal & Edna Horine, Portland OR;
Pennsylvania – 75 years - Charles & Mary Ventrello, Erie PA;
Rhode Island – 67 years - Rosella & Donat Laliberte, Central Falls RI (deceased);
South Carolina – 67 years - Marie & Michael Munoz, Goose Creek SC;
South Dakota – 54 years -James & Eileen Weisbeck, Harreid SD;
Tennessee – 69 years - William & Pansy McNabb, Unicoi TN;
Texas – 77 years - Ross & Clarabelle Snodgrass, Kerrville TX;
Utah – 49 years - Al & Helen Averill, Ephram UT;
Virginia – 70 years - Harry & Frances Ketcham, Annandale VA;
Vermont – 62 years - Arthur & Theresa Audette, Williston VT;
Washington – 70 years -Donald & Eileen Walter, Vancouver WA;
Wisconsin – 70 years - Lawrence & Edna Bremer, Bloomer WI;
West Virginia – 80 years - Paul & Ellenor Whiteman, Bridgeport WV and
Wyoming – 74 years - Victor & Matilda Schaff, Thermopolis WY

Worldwide Marriage Encounter has been offering weekend experiences for over 42 years and is considered the original faith-based marriage enrichment program. The programs are continually updated to keep abreast of changes in society, and WWME now offers evening and half-day programs that are presented at parishes and other church facilities. The weekend program, traditionally presented as an overnight experience at a hotel or retreat center, can also be presented at the parish where the couples return to their homes in the evenings. WWME has a presence in over 90 countries, which makes it the largest pro-marriage movement in the world. In North America, the WWME programs are presented in English, Spanish, French, and Korean languages.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter offers married couples the opportunity to spend time together away from the busyness of the world to focus on each other. It offers tools for building and maintaining a strong, Christian marriage in today’s world. To learn more about the Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends online, go to wwme.org , or you can call 1-800-795-LOVE (English) and 1-800-599-AMOR (Spanish), or contact the WWME Office at (909) 863-9963.

Media inquires should be directed to:
Dick & Diane Baumbach (321) 544-3440 dickanddiane66@bellsouth.net

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER

2210 East Highland Avenue, Suite 110 San Bernardino, CA 92404 (909) 863-9963

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dec. 20, 2010

- Nominations Still Sought By Worldwide Marriage Encounter

Washington, D.C. – The continuing search for the longest married couple project sponsored by Worldwide Marriage Encounter, the original faith-based marriage enrichment program in this country, received strong support and recognition on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives during remarks made by Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (D-PA).

“Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in congratulating Worldwide Marriage Encounter and all the volunteers and clergy for their efforts to strengthen marriages throughout our country,” Rep. Dahlkemper said. The remarks were made during the closing sessions of Congress last week.

The congresswoman added, “Worldwide Marriage Encounter is undertaking a project to recognize the longest married couple from every State, with special recognition to the longest married couple in the United States. As nearly 50 percent of marriages end in divorce, it is truly an inspiration to see how many couples have remained together for so long.”

“Thus far over 180 nominations have been received and they continue to come in at a steady pace,” explained Scott & Karen Seaborn and Fr, Tom Griffith, SVD, the United States Ecclesial Team for WWME. They added. “We want to thank Congresswoman Dahlkemper for her strong support of the Worldwide Marriage Encounter movement and especially for this longest married couple search.”

“As we enter the final days of the Christmas season when so many families are together, what a perfect time to nominate a couple whose marriage has spanned decades of love,” the Seaborns and Fr. Griffth added.

As the deadline for submitting nominations nears it is strongly suggested that they be made to Dick & Diane Baumbach and Fr. Dick Morse, who serve as the North American Weekend Pillar for the WWME movement, who are overseeing the project.

“We know that traditionally families get together during the holiday period and what a perfect time to nominate parents or grandparents who have been married for a long time,” the Baumbachs and Fr. Morse stated. They also said that couples can nominate themselves for the recognition.

Plans call for the Seaborns and Fr. Griffith to personally present the longest married couple in the United States with special gifts on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2011. The individual state winners will also receive special certificates of achievement and other gifts from the Worldwide Marriage Encounter movement on that same day. The state winners will be presented their certificates by Worldwide Marriage Encounter couples.

Nominations, which are open to all husband and wife couples, may be submitted by email, regular mail or by calling a special phone number. The deadline for nominations is midnight on January 10th.

The contact information for sending in a nomination, which simply requires the name of the couple, their wedding date and where they currently reside plus a phone or email address, is as follows: email dickanddiane66@bellsouth.net ; regular mail Dick & Diane Baumbach 1430 Scorpious Ct. Merritt Island, FL 32953 and special phone number 321-453-2475.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter has been offering weekend experiences for over 42 years and is considered the original faith-based marriage enrichment program. The programs are continually updated to keep abreast of changes in society, and WWME now offers evening and half-day programs that are presented at parishes and other church facilities. The weekend program, traditionally presented as an overnight experience at a hotel or retreat center, can also be presented at the parish where the couples return to their homes in the evenings. WWME has a presence in over 90 countries, which makes it the largest pro-marriage movement in the world. In North America, the WWME programs are presented in English, Spanish, French, and Korean languages.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter offers married couples the opportunity to spend time together away from the busyness of the world to focus on each other. It offers tools for building and maintaining a strong, Christian marriage in today’s world. To learn more about the Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends online, go to wwme.org , or you can call 1-800-795-LOVE (English) and 1-800-599-AMOR (Spanish), or contact the WWME Office at (909) 863-9963.

Media inquires should be directed to:
Dick & Diane Baumbach (321) 544-3440 dickanddiane66@bellsouth.net

The search is on for the longest married couple in the United States! It was announced today by the U.S. leaders of Worldwide Marriage Encounter, the original faith-based marriage enrichment program in this country.

"We want to honor the longest married couple on Feb. 14, 2011," explained Scott & Karen Seaborn and Fr, Tom Griffith, SVD, the United States Ecclesial Team for WWME.

"It is an appropriate time in our marriage enrichment ministry to recognize a husband and wife who have been married for many, many years," the ecclesial team explained.

In addition to the longest married couple for the entire United States, recognition will also be given to a couple from each state who has achieved that distinction for their area.

In the case of the United States couple, appropriate gifts will be presented to them at a ceremony to be held at their location on Valentine’s Day. The state winners will receive a special certificate of achievement from the Worldwide Marriage Encounter movement.

Nominations, which are open to all husband and wife couples regardless of faith expression, may be submitted by email, regular mail or by calling a special phone number. The process will be overseen by Dick & Diane Baumbach and Fr. Dick Morse, who serve as the North American Weekend Pillar for the WWME movement.

The contact information for sending in a nomination, which simply requires the name of the couple, their wedding date and where they currently reside plus a phone or email address, is as follows: email dickanddiane66@bellsouth.net ; regular mail Dick & Diane Baumbach 1430 Scorpious Ct. Merritt Island, FL 32953 and special phone number 321-453-2475. Nominations must be received by January 10th, 2011.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter has been offering weekend experiences for over 42 years and is considered the original faith-based marriage enrichment program. The programs are continually updated to keep abreast of changes in society, and WWME now offers evening and half-day programs that are presented at parishes and other church facilities. The weekend program, traditionally presented as an overnight experience at a hotel or retreat center, can also be presented at the parish where the couples return to their homes in the evenings. WWME has a presence in over 90 countries, which makes it the largest pro-marriage movement in the world. In North America, the WWME programs are presented in English, Spanish, French, and Korean languages.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter offers married couples the opportunity to spend time together away from the busyness of the world to focus on each other. It offers tools for building and maintaining a strong, Christian marriage in today’s world. To learn more about the Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends online, go to wwme.org, or you can call 1-800-795-LOVE (English) and 1-800-599-AMOR (Spanish), or contact the WWME Office at (909) 863-9963.

Media inquires should be directed to:
Dick & Diane Baumbach (321) 544-3440

Cana's New Wine for a New Age: Worldwide Marriage Encounter
• By Sonja Corbitt
• 6/16/2010
• Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

NASHVILLE, TN (Catholic Online) - Cana is such a heady experience. The bride and groom step into the future with a new spouse, full of Cana's wine, sparkling with promise and hope, ready to be the happiest they will ever be. Quickly, however, they discover that first flavors and impressions of Cana reveal the vintage chalice of Christ, His special marriage gift decanted into their lives.

As it ages, this new marital wine is meant to expand and breathe within them, to sacramentally preserve and purify, enhancing and maturing them into the fragrance and flavor, the bouquet of Christ. What could be more thrilling, more intimidating, than discovering how to live more deeply in Christ through a sacramental relationship in the service of others?

A Heart for Marriage

In 1952, in an effort to nurture this sacramental richness of Marriage, a young Spanish priest began "presentations" for married couples. Father Gabriel Calvo traveled throughout Spain for ten years, offering what became known as "marriage teams of Pope Pious XII," conferences that taught couples how to dialogue more honestly, lovingly and effectively.

Offering his presentation in weekend retreat format, first in Barcelona, then throughout Spain as the movement grew and spread, Father Calvo and his team addressed the International Confederation of Christian Family Movements in Caracas in 1962, at which point the Weekend spread to Latin America and to Spanish speaking couples in the United States. It grew so rapidly that by the summer of 1968, 50 couples and 29 priests were presenting Weekends in the US, and differences of philosophy and method began to arise among the movement's leaders.

With its strong emphasis on marriage as a Sacrament of the Church and therefore a means of Her renewal, Worldwide Marriage Encounter retained the Catholic expression of Fr. Calvo's vision of such renewal through his Marriage Encounter ministry, while the National Marriage Encounter emerged to focus on non-Catholic or non-religious couples. Both continue today.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter

World Wide Marriage Encounter, however, has since expanded internationally, and Fr. Calvo's Weekend is currently a powerful evangelizing force in 88 countries, nurturing sacramental marital relationships and a lower divorce rate, and refreshing and strengthening the Church through the Sacraments of Marriage and Holy Orders.

WWME provides enrichment and ongoing support for couples and religious who are not in crisis. Through 44 hours of uninterrupted "alone-time" they are inspired and equipped to greater depth and intimacy through group presentations followed by private time for discernment and discussion.

By stripping away the distractions and tensions of everyday life, the WWME Weekend provides a quiet, meditative environment for couples to focus on one other and their relationship. Not a retreat, group therapy, or marriage counseling, WWME is, instead, a unique approach aimed at revitalizing Marriage on the earth, whether one's spouse is human or Divine.

Unique Approach

A Catholic priest is always present on a Worldwide Marriage Encounter experience, lending his own sacramental presence to couples and religious as they strive to live out fully intimate and holy marital relationships within the richness of Catholic experience and community.

Presenting couples are themselves in sacramental marriages and active in their Catholic faith and parishes, many as CCD educators, Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors. Together, they embrace participants wherever they are in their marital covenants and help them move toward more supportive and intimate relationships with their spouses.

An Ecclesial Movement, the Finger of God

As an ecclesial movement, Worldwide Marriage Encounter images God's plan for the the Sacraments of Marriage and Holy Orders as the basis of marriage, family, and society and a means of sanctity. It stresses the profound importance He places on them for renewal in the Church and the world.

Marriage or Holy Orders is a supreme, lifetime work requiring sacramental grace, and the families born through these relationships are the path to sanctity for those who choose them. Like wine, time alters the lifetime covenant, deepening it, softening its youthful bite, and encouraging the development of a more complex flavor, structure, and aroma.

The aromas of aged wines intertwine in a most intimate and complex manner; it is at the interface between wine and air that they are released. Similarly, it is the Holy Spirit's living action that releases His fragrance, intimacy and complexity in a sacramental marriage.

Pope John Paul II said, "I place much of my hope for the future in Worldwide Marriage Encounter." Perhaps he had already discerned that through this ecclesial movement the Holy Spirit was at work pouring out anew the ancient vintage of Cana upon His yearning Church, refreshing her weary palate and teaching her once again to appreciate the chalice of sacrificial love.

Seven years into their marriage, Cathy and Jim Nielsen realized they had hit a plateau.

“We did not have a bad marriage, but we thought we could do a little better,” said Jim.

“Our marriage was a little stale,” Cathy agreed, adding that they were involved with their children, work, school and everything else at the expense of their marriage.

In honor of the annual Catholic event honoring the sacrament of marriage and family, Worldwide Marriage Encounter and the Family Life/Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of New York are putting the spotlight on spouses who have been married for 65 years or more.

Ten couples from New York are being honored this morning at a mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral, followed by a special reception.

They decided to try something new through World Wide Marriage Encounter of Vermont, a weekend away to work on their marriage. “I didn’t want any part of that touchy-feely stuff,” Bob said, “but I went and what we found out was how much we really did love each other. It was pretty special.”

(this article is now archived and only available for pay)