WHAT IS A MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER?
The emphasis of Marriage Encounter is on communication between
husband and wife, who spend a weekend together away from the
distractions and the tensions of everyday life, to concentrate on each
other. It's not a retreat nor marriage clinic, nor group sensitivity.
It's a unique approach aimed at revitalizing Marriage. This is a time
for you and your spouse to be alone together, to rediscover each other
and together focus on your relationship for an entire weekend. Every
marriage deserves that kind of attention!
Return to Top
WHO IS IT FOR?
Any married couple who desires a richer, fuller life together. A
marriage can never be too good. It is designed for couples who have a
good solid marriage and wish to improve their communication. The
weekend helps couples to deepen and enrich the joys they share
together, whether they have been married for only a short time, or
many years. Marriage Encounter also provides support and encouragement
to priests and other religious who are dedicated to their vocation in
life.
Return to Top
DO YOU HAVE TO BE CATHOLIC TO GO ON A WEEKEND?
The weekend is Catholic in orientation and is expressed in the
tradition and understanding of the Catholic Church. It is open to all,
and so a certain number of spaces are reserved each weekend for
couples of other faiths. The focus is not on details of individual
beliefs and faith: it is about relationship in marriage. Couples of
many different faiths have enhanced their relationship as a result of
the weekend experience. There are also many other
faith expressions of Marriage Encounter Weekends - Lutheran,
Methodist, Church of Christ, Jewish, Assemblies of God, Seventh Day
Adventist, Baptist, Episcopal, and Anglican.
Return to Top
WHAT HAPPENS AT A WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND?
A series of presentations are given by a team of Catholic couples
and a Catholic priest. Each presentation allows you and your spouse a
rare opportunity to look at yourselves as individuals, then to look at
your marriage and relationship to one another, and finally to look at
your relationship to God and to the world. These teams are not
professional marriage counselors. They are volunteers who come from
many backgrounds. They all share a deep commitment to marriage. The
weekend starts at 8:00 on Friday evening and runs until about 4:00 on
Sunday afternoon.
Return to Top
DOES THE WEEKEND RESPECT A COUPLE'S PRIVACY?
YES! The weekend is oriented strictly to each individual couple.
You concentrate on your spouse to such an extent that you are hardly
aware of the other couples present. The presentations are given to the
group as a whole. After each presentation, the husband and wife have
time in the privacy of their hotel room for their own personal
discussion. There is no group discussion by the couples attending the
weekend.
Return to Top
HOW DOES A MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER ENHANCE A MARRIAGE?
The encounter weekend teaches a communication technique which
permits each couple to explore important areas of their relationship
in a spirit of love and understanding. By continuing the
newly-acquired technique begun on the weekend, husbands and wives
continually grow closer together to live more joyful and purposeful
lives.
Return to Top
WHAT DOES THE WEEKEND COST?
A $60 non-refundable registration fee confirms your reservation
on the weekend. At the end of the weekend each couple is given a blank
envelope and asked to make a donation. Contributions made on or in
connection with the Marriage Encounter weekend are made
confidentially. No one is ever refused the opportunity to make a
weekend because of a lack of funds.
Return to Top