FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Who is the Weekend for?
The
Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME) Weekend is for any married couple who
desires a richer, fuller life together. A marriage can never be too good. The
Weekend is designed to deepen and enrich the joys a couple shares together,
whether they have been married for only a short time or for many years.
Marriage Encounter also provides support and encouragement to priests and
religious who are dedicated to their state of life but are eager to be greater.
There are two weekend experiences that have been established to address the
needs of couples who are engaged (called Engaged
Encounter) and of couples
with troubled marriages (called Retrouvaille
).
Is there a specific religious orientation
to the Weekend?
Worldwide Marriage
Encounter does present God as a focus for successful marital relationships.
There are many faith expressions of WWME 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.
What happens at a Worldwide Marriage
Encounter Weekend?
A series of
presentations are given by a team of married couples and a religious in the
particular faith expression (priest or minister). 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 WWME Weekend starts at 8:00
on Friday night and runs until about 4:00 on Sunday afternoon. Meals are
provided.
It is important that
you choose a weekend that allows you to attend the whole weekend experience,
clearing your calendar for one another from Friday evening through Sunday
afternoon.
Does the WWME 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 Weekend enhance a
marriage?
The WWME 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. While not an essential part of the experience, 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.
How much does the WWME 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 in this area, to confirm your reservation. There is limited
capacity, so early registration is encouraged.
No couple is ever denied the chance to renew their
marriage because of their financial resources. This concern should not influence your decision to attend a Marriage
Encounter 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 Marriage Encounter Weekend are made confidentially.