MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER
History
Today, Marriage Encounter is a worldwide
movement, but it had its origins in 1952 in Spain.
A priest, Father Gabriel Calvo, had couple after couple coming to
him with problems, tensions and frictions in their marriages.
As he was searching for ways to assist these troubled marriages,
he came across a group of young couples who had vastly different
experiences– hap
py, trust-filled relationships based on a strong
religious and sacramental understanding of marriage.
This second group deeply impressed the
priest, for they gave evidence of what a good marriage could be. He sought their help. Together
they created the program now known as Marriage Encounter.
In 1966 Father Calvo and a group of Spanish couples brought the
program to the United States. It has since spread across the United States and to many
countries throughout the world.
The Purpose of Marriage Encounter
The purpose of Marriage
Encounter is to give couples the opportunity to take time away from
their daily routines and spend time examining their lives as a couple --
their weaknesses and strengths, their attitudes towards each other and
toward their
families, their hurts, desires, ambitions, disappointments, joys and
frustrations. They are
enabled to do so openly and honestly in a Christ-like, face-to-face,
heart-to-heart encounter with the one person on this earth who means
more than any other. Together,
with God as the center of their relationship,
they are guided to find ways to make their marriages better.
The Marriage Encounter Weekend
The Marriage Encounter experience
takes place on a weekend, which usually begins on a Friday around 7:30
PM and ends on Sunday evening. The weekends are
usually held monthly (or more often) at hotels or retreat centers, and
meals are provided. The
Encounter weekend is led by a priest and a team of three trained
couples. Each talk gives
husband and wife the opportunity to look at themselves as individuals,
and then look at their relationship with each other.
They are helped to build, expand and deepen the relationships
they already have.
Although there are a number of couples
making the Marriage Encounter weekend at the same time, focus is on
husband and wife concentrating on each other. Research shows the good
communication is a key to good marriages, and so the focus is on
teaching effective communication techniques.
After presentations are given to the group as a whole, husbands
and wives are encouraged to go to the privacy of their rooms for their
own personal sharing, using the communication techniques they have
learned. There are no group
discussions, and the privacy of each couple is respected.
Who Can Make a Marriage Encounter Weekend?
Marriage Encounter is for couples wanting
to enrich their marriages. Although
the presentations are Catholic in the theology of marriage as a
sacrament of the Church,
couples of all faiths and those of no religious affiliation are
encouraged to share in this experience and to become an integral part of
this ministry.
If you and your spouse are interested in
learning more about Marriage Encounter, call one of our parish
contact couples.
Martin and Rosie Gonzalez
(562) 425-1427
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Links
If you want more information
about Marriage Encounter or other programs to strengthen marriages,
click on the links below.
MINISTRY GROUPS
