The internationally known website About.com, which annually conducts its Readers Choice Awards, has named Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME) the 2012 winner of the Best Marriage Workshop category.

"WWME was honored to have been selected a finalist for this year’s Readers Choice Award competition and now to be selected as the winner in the Best Marriage Workshop category is simply wonderful," said Scott and Karen Seaborn and Fr. Tom Griffith, SVD, the United States Ecclesial Team for Worldwide Marriage Encounter.

Jose and Marilyn Garcia and Fr. Mitch Walters, the North American Ecclesial Team for WWME, added, "We know that there were many votes cast by individuals and couples who truly believe that Worldwide Marriage Encounter is the best marriage enrichment program available. We thank all those who voted for WWME."

"The recognition Worldwide Marriage Encounter has received from the About.com Readers Choice Award is absolutely wonderful and we hope that couples from across the world will see how strong and vibrant the WWME weekend experience is for their marriages," said Tony & Cathy Witczak and Fr. Emile Frische, MHM, the International Ecclesial Team for WWME.

Vote from among these five finalists for the marriage workshop category. If you'd like to read more info about each of them before voting, you can find links to each finalist's website here.

Voting is open Feb. 22 through March 21, 2012. The winners will be announced March 30, 2012. You will be able to vote once per day in each category. To learn more about this program, visit the About.com Readers' Choice Awards FAQ.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 1, 2012

JC PENNEY’S NEW MAGAZINE FEATURES THE 2011 WINNERS OF LONGEST MARRIED COUPLE PROJECT SPONSORED BY WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER

San Bernardino, CA – The couple who was honored last year as the Longest Married Couple in the United States by Worldwide Marriage Encounter has been featured in a two page article in the new JC Penney magazine. Marshall & Winnie Kuykendall of Lordsburg, New Mexico will be married 83 years on Valentine’s Day.

“We are so pleased that JC Penney chose to recognize last year’s national winners,” said Scott & Karen Seaborn, the United States Leadership Team for Worldwide Marriage Encounter. The Seaborns serve with Fr. Tom Griffith, SVD in the role of the U.S. Ecclesial Team.

The JC Penney magazine is the start of a new marketing effort by the company. The circulation of the magazine, which is sent to its customers, is Dick & Diane and Fr. Dick14 million.

“Just like last year, Worldwide Marriage Encounter solicited nominations starting in October for the Longest Married Couple honor in the United States for 2012. We used radio, television, newspapers and the internet to seek the nominations. The closing date for nominations was January 10th. The honor this year goes to Wilbur & Theresa Faiss of Las Vegas, Nevada. The Faiss’ have been married 78 years,” the Seaborns said.

There were also 47 state winners this year who were nominated for the project. Those winners were announced earlier in the week.

The leadership team added, “We are aware that there may be couples married longer, but we want to focus on the nomination process so that family and friends can be involved in this very special program.”

In order to have more couples recognized and honored each year, Worldwide Marriage Encounter set up an alumni association so that previous winners could not succeed themselves year after year. However, any previous state winner could win the national title the following year if they were nominated and had the longest marriage.

JC Penney sought out the Kuykendalls to help launch their magazine effort in February, traditionally known as Valentine’s month.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter has been offering weekend experiences for over 43 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 inquiries should be directed to:
Dick & Diane Baumbach (321) 544-3440 dickanddiane66@bellsouth.net

Want to know the key to a long and happy marriage from an expert?

"Every day ask her how she feels and 'Is there anything I can do for you?' " Wilbur Faiss of Las Vegas said. "And say, 'Honey, I still love you.' "

Faiss, 100, clearly speaks from experience. He and his wife, Theresa, 96, were married more than 78 years ago in Centralia, Ill.

The Worldwide Marriage Encounter announced Tuesday that the Faisses are the winners of its longest-married couple contest for 2012. Three other couples who have longer marriages, and are still alive, have been honored by the faith-based organization in past years, according to Dick Baumback, who oversees the program.

San Bernardino, CA – Worldwide Marriage Encounter, the original faith based marriage enrichment program in the United States, announces the winner of the Longest Married Couple Project to be Wibur & Theresa Faiss of Las Vegas, NV. They have been married 78 years as of Feb. 11, 2012.

The state winners as a result of the project will be announced on Monday, Jan. 30, 2012. There were 256 nominations received from 47 states.

“What a privilege and honor it is to recognize Wilbur & Theresa Faiss for their commitment to marriage,” said Scott and Karen Seaborn, the United States Ecclesial Team for WWME. “We look forward to personally recognizing them on Feb. 11th in their hometown of Las Vegas,” they added. The Seaborns serve with Fr. Tom Griffith, SVD, as the U.S. leadership for the marriage enrichment movement.

The Faiss’ were married April 14, 1933. They met at a roller skating rink in Centralia, IL in 1930. Mr. Faiss said it was” love at first sight.”

The Nevada couple achieved the honor of being the Longest Married Couple based on the over 250 nominations submitted to Worldwide Marriage Encounter beginning in October of last year.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter created this project to highlight marriage in America and to show young couples that marriage really can go the distance. “What an inspiration Mr. & Mrs. Faiss are to all of us. They made a commitment to each other 78 years ago and they have kept that commitment over these many years. They truly are a sign of hope to us all,” the Seaborns said.

The national winners have three children, six grandchildren, five great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren.

The presentation of gifts and acknowledgements to the Faiss’ will be made at 10 am Feb. 11th at the Wilbur & Theresa Faiss Middle School, which is named in honor of them, and is located in Las Vegas.

The state winners will also be presented their certificates and recognitions by Worldwide Marriage Encounter couples, during Valentine’s week.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter has been offering weekend experiences for over 43 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 inquiries should be directed to:
Dick & Diane Baumbach (321) 544-3440 dickanddiane66@bellsouth.net

COLLEGE PARK—The Atlanta Eucharistic Congress draws 25,000 to 30,000 people together in the radiance of this miracle that Vatican II called the source and summit of the Catholic faith. The two-day event of processions, teachings, prayer, liturgy and community rejoicing around the Eucharist is such a witness that it has renewed faith in other parts of the country, said Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York.

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