Frequently Asked Questions

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

WHAT DOES THE WEEKEND COST?

There is a $50 non-refundable application fee for 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.