Jose and Mary Elizabeth Alvior of Mililani have returned to serve as the Worldwide Marriage Encounter Hawaii executive couple.
Photo courtesy of Marriage encounter Hawaii
Jose and Mary Elizabeth Alvior
The Alviors were selected on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 3, in a prayerful process at the home of the outgoing Hawaii executive team David and Susan Shanahan of Salt Lake. The selection process was followed by Mass celebrated by Father Marvin Samiano and a commissioning ceremony led by Chris and Ann Aguilar of San Jose, California, WWME’s Region 12 executive team couple.
“Congratulations to Jose and Mary Elizabeth!” Chris Aguilar said. “God will be great in you as Hawaii continues to change the world, one sacrament at a time.”
“Thank you to the Hawaii community for their participation in a spirit-filled selection process,” Ann Aguilar added. “We also extend our gratitude to the Shanahans for their service and willingness to continue to serve the movement in other areas.”
Worldwide Marriage Encounter has been offering weekend experiences for more than 45 years and is considered the original faith-based marriage enrichment program. Programs are continually updated to keep abreast of changes in society, and include a variety of enrichments offered in parishes and small groups.
Worldwide Marriage Encounter has a presence in almost 100 countries, which makes it the largest pro-marriage movement in the world. In North America, the Marriage Encounter programs are presented in English, Spanish, French and Korean languages.
Hawaii is part of Region 12 in the United States Secretariat, which features 21 regions across the country. Region 12 covers Northern California, Central California, Northern Nevada, Hawaii, Guam and Saipan.
The Alviors will lead Hawaii’s Marriage Encounter movement for a two-year term. During that time, they will oversee the traditional weekend retreats for married couples and priests, as well as community enrichments and Worldwide Marriage Encounter events in Hawaii.
“We feel honored and humbled by the opportunity to carry out our mission: To proclaim the values of holy matrimony and holy orders,” Jose Alvior said. “We know we can’t do this alone and we welcome the support in building up the Hawaii Encounter movement.”
Mary Elizabeth Alvior said that Worldwide Marriage Encounter wants to collaborate with other ministries that support families.
“No group can operate independently,” she said. “We look forward to partnerships and initiatives that help build strong marriages and healthy families.”
The Alviors have been married for 26 years and attended their first weekend in February 2001. They previously served as the executive team for the Hawaii Encounter from 2006 to 2008, and have been a presenting team since 2002. The Alviors have also served as the presenting priest coordinators for Region 12.
Jose Alvior works as a mental health supervisor for the state of Hawaii Department of Health; and Mary Elizabeth recently began a new career as a military and life counselor at Schofield Barracks. The couple has two children, Patrick Alvior, a University of Hawaii West Oahu senior, and Caitlin Alvior, a junior at Mililani High School.
Worldwide Marriage Encounter has three weekends scheduled this year — April 29-May 1, and Sept. 23-25, at the St. Anthony Retreat Center on Oahu; and Aug. 26-28 on Maui.
WWME Hawaii also has community enrichments planned. In April, the Maui community will present “Five Languages of Love,” from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 16, at the St. Anthony Church Center in Wailuku. Contact for the Maui enrichment is Fred and Donna Ventura on Maui, 298-4241; or e-mail: donnav3@hawaiiantel.net
For more information about weekends, go to www.hawaiiwwme.org, or call Jose and Mary Elizabeth Alivor at 391-2045; or Lee and Tanya Barbero on Maui at 268-1578.
