What is a Worldwide Marriage Encounter
Who is it for?
Why would priests
or other religious attend?
Is there a particular religious orientation?
What happens on a Weekend?
Does the
Weekend respect a couple's privacy?
How does
a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend enhance a marriage?
Our
marriage is under stress, and we're considering separation or divorce. Is
Worldwide Marriage Encounter for us?
How much does a
Weekend cost?
How do I get
more information?
What is a Worldwide Marriage Encounter?
The Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend is a positive and
personal experience offering married couples an opportunity to learn a
technique of loving communication that they can use for the rest of their
lives. It's a chance to look deeply into their relationship with each other and
with God. It's a time to share their feelings, hopes and dreams with each
other. The emphasis of the weekend is on the communication between husbands and
wives. The weekend provides a conducive environment
for couples to spend time together, away from the distractions and tensions of
everyday life, while encouraging them to focus on each other and their
relationship. It's not a retreat, marriage clinic, group sensitivity, or a
substitute for counseling. 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. Worldwide Marriage Encounter is
designed to deepen and enrich the joys a couple share together, whether they
have been married for only a short time, or for many years. Priests and other
religious are also welcome and encouraged to attend!
Why would priests or other religious attend?
The Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend is designed in
such a way that both priests and religious can participate fully. The
principles of love, commitment and effective communication translate quite
readily to the relationship between a priest and his parish or any group to
whom he ministers as well as to a religious community. Priests who have made an
Encounter weekend call the experience "life enhancing." Worldwide
Marriage Encounter invites you to attend. Please take advantage of our
networking process by which we can help you get a replacement for the weekend
you choose to attend.
Is there a specific religious orientation to the weekend?
Worldwide Marriage Encounter does present God as a focus
for successful marriage. There are many faith expressions of Worldwide Marriage
Encounter Weekends - Catholic, as well as several Protestant denominations.
While the Weekend may be presented in a given Faith expression, each is open to
couples from other orientations. The opportunities of the Weekend go beyond the
boundaries of any one expression. Religious doctrine is not preached. Each
couple is asked to apply what they hear to their own faith expression.
What happens at a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend?
A series of presentations are given by a team of married
couples and a 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. The weekend
starts at 8:00 on Friday night and runs until about 5:00 on Sunday afternoon.
Five meals are provided (Saturday; breakfast, lunch & dinner and Sunday
breakfast & lunch).
Does the weekend respect the 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 room for their own personal discussion.
How does a Worldwide 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. The availability of a community of
others who have shared the Weekend and who share similar values provides a
supportive environment for even further growth after the weekend.
Our marriage is under stress, and
we're considering separation or divorce. Is Worldwide Marriage Encounter for
us?
No. Worldwide Marriage Encounter is for couples
experiencing the usual ups and downs of married life, not situations that
threaten your relationship. You should contact an organization like Retrouvaille.
If you're unsure whether a Marriage Encounter weekend is appropriate for your
situation, call us and we can help discern which program would be right for
you. You can call us at 609.827.7117
How much does the weekend cost?
On the weekend, you will be asked to make a donation. This
donation will cover the expenses of lodging, food, and materials for the
Weekend. A non-refundable registration fee of $50 is required to confirm your
reservation, food, and lodging. There is limited capacity, so early
registration is encouraged. No couple is ever denied the chance to renew their
marriage because they are facing financial difficulties; this concern should
not influence your decision to attend a weekend. Worldwide Marriage Encounter
is a tax-exempt organization. The Internal Revenue Service has ruled that
donations made in connection with the Weekend, including the non-refundable
deposit mentioned above, are deductible only to the extent that the
contribution exceeds the amount of goods and services received. Information as
to that amount will be given to couples attending the Weekend. Contributions
made on or in connection with the Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend are made
confidentially.
How do I get more information?
To have information sent to you, or to have someone call
you with more information, send e-mail to the area below requesting more
information.
Worldwide Marriage Encounter - Our National family
eMatrimony.org - WWME News and information
Encounter Resource Library -
resources for Encountered sacraments
Global
database of M.E. weekend dates
World Marriage Day / World Priest Day
Worldwide
Marriage Encounter video
Retrouvaille
- Help for troubled marriages