Contact: Dick and Diane Baumbach, 321-544-3440, Dickanddiane66@bellsouth.net; Tom and Katie Watson, 303-503-9756, planmark@comcast.net; all for Worldwide Marriage Encounter

ONTARIO, Calif., July 8 /Christian Newswire/ -- Over 850 Worldwide Marriage Encounter couples made a strong statement here promising a lifetime commitment to their marriages.  The couples signed a banner at the Ontario Convention Center which also affirmed their belief in traditional marriage between a man and a woman.

Photo: Hundreds of Worldwide Marriage Encounter couples line up to sign a proclamation supporting a lifetime commitment to their marriages. 

The words "Forever Yours" were written in large print at the top of the banner. Thousands of participants at the convention squeezed into the very large convention lobby to participate in the signing.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter couples were meeting in Ontario to celebrate the 40th anniversary of this grass roots movement that has spread to 90 countries. 

The event saw a turnout of about 2,000 people from all over the world, including 850 married couples, 250 children, 70 priests and several bishops from the San Diego and San Bernardino dioceses.

"This is a way for us to reinforce the permanence of our marriage vows and the sanctity of the sacrament of matrimony," said Tony & Cathy Witczak and Fr. Emile Frische, the United States leadership team of Worldwide Marriage Encounter.  The very large 5 foot by 8 foot banner also included a statement supporting the sacrament of Holy Orders. 

Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends start on a Friday evening and end on Sunday afternoon.  Participants hear presentations by a couple and a priest and later write their thoughts and feelings to share in the privacy of their room. There is no group discussion. Weekends are held in various locations, including hotels and retreat centers.

There is a cost for the weekend, but in the 40 year history of Worldwide Marriage Encounter, no couple has ever been turned away from attending a weekend because of lack of money. 

Worldwide Marriage Encounter is a non-profit organization and all donations from the weekend are used to continue offering additional weekends throughout the country and the world.

Married couples who want to learn more about making their "good marriages, better" can find Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends that are presented all over the United States.