Engaged Encounter

Engaged Encounter is a marriage preparation program sponsored by the Engaged Encounter Community and the Office of Family Life.

The encounter is a weekend experience which allows couples time to reflect upon their relationship in an atmosphere free of the pressures and distractions of everyday life. It is designed to give the couple planning marriage an opportunity to talk honestly and intensely about their prospective life together- their strengths and weaknesses, desires, ambitions, goals; their attitudes about money, sex, children, family; their roles in the church and society.

Who is it for?

Although Catholic in origin, Catholic Engaged Encounter is open to any couple of any faith who are preparing for a marriage that would be recognized by the Catholic Church. Formal engagement is not necessary; a couple need only to be seriously considering marriage.

What happens on the weekend?

Through a series of presentations by married couples and a priest, the engaged couple is stimulated to discuss privately with each other all aspects of married life – always from the viewpoint of their own relationship. The emphasis is not on lectures or group discussions. This is a private experience in a quiet and informal setting. Personal reflection and couple dialogue are the main focus of the weekend. Please visit the national website for Catholic Engaged Encounter: www.engagedencounter.org for more details and for further information about the experience.

When? Where? What is the Cost?

The Engaged Encounter begins Friday at 6:30 p.m. and concludes Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. Because Engaged Encounter is a weekend experience, a complete weekend stay is necessary.

Weekends are held at Marywood Retreat Center, 235 Marywood Drive, St. Johns, FL. Lodging is double occupancy, rooms include full bath, and central heat and air conditioning.

The cost for the weekend is $280 per couple and must be paid at the time of registration. Your $280 fee is fully refundable, or transferable to another Engaged Encounter weekend, if you call us at least ten days before your scheduled weekend. If you must cancel within ten days of your weekend, some portion of your $280 fee might be refundable, at our discretion, depending upon the circumstances. However, in no case will a refund be given if a couple fails to show up for their designated weekend without providing any prior notice.

Please note: the deadline for registrations for a given weekend is Sunday at 5:00 p.m. prior to each Engaged Encounter session.

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact the Engaged Encounter coordinators listed below: