ENGAGED ENCOUNTER

FOR COUPLES PREPARING FOR MARRIAGE

Schedule | Reservation Form

What is an Engaged Encounter?

An Engaged Encounter is a weekend experience for couples preparing for marriage.  It offers a unique opportunity for couples to dialogue together honestly and intensively about their lives together and their love for each other: their strengths and weaknesses, dreams and hopes, desires and gifts, their attitudes about money, sex, children and family – all in a personal, face-to-face way.

How does the Encounter work?

A team of married couples along with a priest or brother from the Renewal Center staff makes a series of presentations based on their own lived experience.  Then the engaged couples are invited to share privately about these aspects of married life –always from the perspective of their own unique relationship.

The weekend is Catholic in orientation, but engaged couples of all faiths are welcomed, and do attend.

When is the best time to attend?

The Engaged Encounter is limited to 50 couples.  Thus, if you want to be assured of getting the date you choose, your application and deposit MUST be received as early as possible.  Most weekends are filled three months in advance.  Reservations can’t be made by phone, but only in writing and with the deposit.

When are the Encounters held?

Engaged Encounters are scheduled monthly.  See the accompanying schedule.  Please speak with your parish priest, then send in your registration and deposit, or call Oblate Renewal Center for more information. 

The weekend begins on Friday evening at 7:30 pm, and ends with Mass on Sunday morning.  You will be finished by noon.  The couples stay two nights, in separate rooms (double occupancy), at Oblate Renewal Center.

How much does the weekend cost?

A registration fee of $125 is required with your application.  This fee is non-refundable.  The registration fee can be transferred to another weekend, due to some unforeseen emergency, if notice is given by Wednesday noon prior to the weekend.  But a transfer can only be made once.

During the weekend, couples will be asked to make an additional contribution of $125 to cover the costs of the weekend: meals, lodging & supplies.  The total cost of the weekend is $250.  We suggest you budget the cost of the weekend into your wedding expenses.