The ENGAGED ENCOUNTER WEEKEND
"The best Wedding Gift"

With the highest casualty rate among marriages today, both in secular and catholic circles we must ask why? What are we doing wrong? Is there a common cause?

With any major project, preparation and planning are essential. Everything requires resourcing, upskilling, using the right tools, why not marriage?

Catholic Engaged Encounter provides a weekend experience of seeing marriage "from the inside". Two married couples and a priest share their successes and failures, their happy times and difficult times. This is very much a "couple weekend" where the engaged couples spend time without distraction, focusing on the future realities of their life together. The emphasis is on communication - money, careers, children, lifestyles, God, in-laws, sexuality, hurting, healing, listening, hobbies, sport - all these impact on our lives. Communication helps us tackle these factors constructively for the well-being of our future as a couple. The dynamic of couples spending a weekend sharing meals etc with other couples with a common focus is its strength. From Friday night till Sunday afternoon, the focus is on the couple and their future married life. And it works!

Comments from couples:
"This weekend really gave us time to talk about what matters"
"We had thought we knew it all, but we learnt so much about each other this weekend"

Engaged Encounter weekends are held in Wellington at the Island Bay Home Of Compassion Conference Centre.

Couples usually come from the Wellington and Palmerston North Dioceses.

dates for Weekends in 2009

13 - 15 February
22 - 24 May
28 - 30 August
27 - 29 November

For more information and bookings,
Telephone or email Christine and Mike (04) 239 9866

Some frequently asked Questions...

What is Catholic Engaged Encounter?
It is a weekend designed for couples who are preparing for marriage. While it is spent with other engaged couples, private time is available for the couple to build a closer relationship. The weekend provides an opportunity for each couple to talk privately, honestly and intensely about their future lives together - their strengths and weaknesses; desires; ambitions; goals; their attitudes about money, sex, values, lifestyles, family, and their role in the Church and society.
Research indicates that couples who possess good communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills stand a much better chance of their marriage lasting and being a partnership that is filled with continuing fun, love, and intimacy.

Engaged Encounter is not designed to take the place of several interviews that must be held with the marriage celebrant, who will discuss, among other things the teachings of the Catholic Church, the Church's view of marriage and the meaning of the ceremony.

What happens on the weekend?
Through a series of ideas presented by a team of two trained married couples, the engaged couple is encouraged to discuss privately all aspects of their forthcoming married life. Their discussion is always from the viewpoint of their own relationship. Personal reflection and discussion between the couple becomes the main focus of the Weekend. Mealtimes provide the couples with the opportunity to socialise.

Do we have to share personally?
The Presenting team share with you some of their experiences of married life, not for you to get to know them well, but to allow you to consider and discuss with your fiance things that are relevant to your couple relationship.

Is it based on group discussion?
There are no group dynamics. The weekend is specifically designed for private discussion between the couple. However, there are a few opportunities for you to participate in a group discussion if you choose.

Is it open to those who are not Catholics?
Yes. Although the weekend is designed for couples who are being married in the Catholic Church, emphasis is on relationship education and is relevant to those of another religion or those who have no religion.

Is Catholicism pushed?
No. The emphasis on the weekend is your couple relationship. As most of the team are Catholics, some of their sharings will reflect their own religious faith. The weekend is about Christian values common to all Christian faiths.

Do we bring a bible on the weekend?
You may, but this is not necessary. The weekend is not a bible study course.

When should a Couple Attend?
To receive the programme's maximum benefit, a weekend should be experienced as early as possible, even before the formal engagement if so wished. However, attendance can be meaningful any time in the engagement. The weekend is not directly a preparation for the wedding day, so it shouldn't be left to the busy period just before the wedding, when there are many distractions and other details to attend to.

When is the Weekend held?
Engaged Encounter weekends will be held on various weekends throughout the year. The weekend is a live-in weekend, it begins Friday evening at 7:30 pm and concludes 4 pm on Sunday afternoon. A couple needs to stay the entire weekend to benefit fully from the experience.

Where is the Weekend held?
Various locations around Wellington. Currently at the scenic Home of Compassion, Island Bay. You can contact the Booking couple for registration. A letter is returned with detailed instructions indicating where and when their particular weekend will be held.

What is the cost of the Weekend?
The weekend is fully catered for with all meals provided on Saturday, breakfast and lunch on Sunday. Towels and bed linen are provided.
The charge for accommodation and meals for 2007 is $320 per couple per weekend. However, no couple is denied the opportunity of attending a Weekend, as funds may be available for such purposes. In addition, an opportunity is available during the weekend for those who wish to make a donation. Cheques should be made payable to Catholic Engaged Encounter.

This Weekend is being presented with the approval of the Archdiocesan Family Life Office.

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