Contact: Dick & Diane Baumbach, Worldwide Marriage Encounter, 321-544-3440, dickanddiane66@bellsouth.net

WATERLOO, Ill., Jan. 18, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- The North American Secretariat (NASET) for Worldwide Marriage Encounter announced today the appointment of their four support staff coordinators (SSC) for the next three years. The announcement was made by Scott & Karen Seaborn and Fr. Tom Ogg, the NASET ecclesial team.

"Together with us, Jamie & Connie McNeill and Fr. John Juhl as the Canadian Ecclesial Leadership Team, and Ron & Judy Pekny and Fr. Rocky Grimard, as the US Ecclesial Leadership Team, we selected the ecclesial teams that will support the North American Secretariat Leadership Council in their roles as pillars for the WWME movement," explained Scott & Karen and Fr. Tom. They added, "As servant leaders of our movement, we will be working closely with the many couples and priests that give so generously of themselves to renew the Sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders on behalf of the Catholic church in the US and Canada."

Pat & Diane Sweeney of Fairfield, CA and Fr. Pete Gideon of Lancaster, OH were named the Community Pillar coordinators, Peter & Sheila Oprysko of Oakland, NJ and Fr. Tom Griffith of Duxbury, MA were named the Team Pillar, Mark & Joyce Kulyk of Fairview, PA and Fr. Mitch Walters of South Orange, NJ were named the Structure Pillar, while Jose & Trini Chavez of Stockton, CA and Bishop Bill Skylstad of Spokane, WA were named the Weekend Pillar.
The pillar system created by WWME is organized under four "pillars". A pillar is defined as "that which strongly supports a work or cause." Each Pillar supports the vision and mission of WWME by providing for specific needs within the movement.

The Weekend Pillar has responsibility for the development of inviting strategies and inviting materials used to inform and motivate others about WWME. The focus of the Weekend Pillar is to support inviting of married couples, ordained priests, and religious to a WWME Weekend or Experience in North America. The focus of the Team Pillar is on providing formation, support, standards, and opportunities for development & enrichment for Catholic married couples and ordained Catholic priests who have accepted the privilege and responsibility as Presenting Teams for Worldwide Marriage Encounter in North America. The Structure Pillar is responsible for oversight of the 501(c)(3) non-profit status of WWME in each Section in the United States and also is the focal point for corporate, financial, legal, and organizational issues affecting Worldwide Marriage Encounter within North America. while the Community Pillar is charged with providing support and formation to develop, strengthen, and motivate the WWME community in the United States.

In addition, to the new pillar coordinators, the Seaborns and Fr. Ogg also announced the creation of a new staff position for the North American Leadership Council.  The position is a public relations/media relations ecclesial team.  Filling that role will be Dick & Diane Baumbach of Cape Canaveral, FL and Fr. Dick Morse from Oakdale, CA. 

Worldwide Marriage Encounter recently celebrated its 44th anniversary and its presence in almost 100 countries makes it the largest pro-marriage movement in the world. In the United States, the movement is divided into 20 sections based on geography and language (English, Spanish and Korean), while in Canada it is divided into six districts, similarly based on language and geography (English,  French, Spanish and Korean).

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 www.wwme.org or you can call 1-800-795-Love or contact the WWME North American Secretariat Office at (909) 863-9963.

For further information contact:
Dick & Diane Baumbach (321) 544-3440 dickanddiane66@bellsouth.net