Catholic Engaged Encounter

Diocese of St. Augustine


What is Engaged Encounter?

Catholic Engaged Encounter is an international nonprofit ministry dedicated to marriage preparation.  It was started in 1975 as an outcrop of the Marriage Encounter ministry.  Marriage Encounter is a retreat designed to renew the couple relationship after several years of marriage;  Engaged Encounter, in contrast, is designed specifically for engaged couples.  

Our motto is "A wedding is a day, a marriage is a lifetime". Think of all the preparation taken for the wedding day. Most people spend months planning, and hundreds, if not thousands of dollars preparing for the wedding. But how much time and effort is actually spent preparing for a Lifetime of Togetherness?

A Catholic Engaged Encounter Weekend is a retreat experience which provides the engaged couple the opportunity to discuss with each other their future together in the Sacrament of Matrimony.  The goal is to deepen a couple's relationship through reflection and dialogue.  Presentations by a team of two married couples and a priest will stimulate the couples to reflect on topics such as:

  • Self-knowledge
  • Communication
  • Intimacy and Morality
  • Decision Making
  • Sacrament
  • Family
  • Engagement and Betrothal

The presenting team will share with the group from personal experiences.  Engaged couples will share only with each other, group interaction is not required.