Homepage of Catholic Worldwide Marriage Encounter, Singapore
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A brief history of Marriage Encounter
A brief History of Marriage Encounter
The story of Marriage Encounter began in Spain where, in the 1950's, a priest by the name of Fr. Gabriel Calvo began developing a series of conferences ending in questions that encouraged husbands and wives to become more open and honest in 1962 he brought together 28 Spanish couples for the first "Encuentro Conyugal".
The movement grew within the structure of the Christian Family Movement (CFM) and spread throughout parts of South and Central America. The Marriage Encounter movement in the English- speaking world began in August 1967 at the close of the CFM conference at Notre Dame University.
At the Notre Dame conference, a Mexican couple and an American Missionary priest from Mexico presented the encounter program to seven American couples and a few priests and nuns. From that beginning, Marriage Encounter has grown worldwide to include 1.25 million people, with a growth rate of some 200,000 per year.
Following a 1968 weekend, a number of couples made the decision to actively bring Marriage Encounter to as many couples as possible.
The New York area quickly became a center of ME and developed as the core of the Worldwide Marriage Encounter movement, under the guidance of Ed and Harriet Garzero, a couple active in CFM, and Fr. Charles A. Gallagher, SJ, a Long Island youth retreat master. Marriage Encounter began scheduling a weekend every month, then two per month. Couples urged their friends to experience the encounter and, by the beginning of 1970, an encounter was scheduled for every weekend.
Certain couples were selected each weekend to receive further training. They became "team couples", able to present weekends along with a priest to help others rediscover the love that brought them together.
Worldwide Marriage Encounter's first overseas expansion came in 1971. American team couples were sent to Belgium, and later to England, and then on to more and more countries to the point where there are now 72 countries that have experience the weekend.
To keep Marriage Encounter alive and strong, a follow-up program was initiated, based on a system of local communities for support. Most importantly, the encounter technique - the technique of dialogue to enable couples to communicate their deepest feelings - was improved and refined.
Encounter weekends have always been open to all faiths. But in 1971 the decision was made to introduce Marriage Encounter to the Jewish and Episcopal faiths. The Catholic movement supported them financially and with guidance while their programs began. Since then, many religious faiths, including Methodist, Lutherans, the Reorganized Latter Day Saints, Presbyterians, etc., have developed their own expressions.
Expanded Marriage Encounter programs, offered to the entire Catholic Church, are growing and spreading. They include sessions for couples, evenings for parents, parish growth programs, family weekends and premarriage instructions.
Solving individual marital problems has never been the goal of Marriage Encounter. Instead, during the weekend a husband and wife are given the opportunity to share the emotions that so often are kept buried inside. They are taught how to make such communication a part of everyday life.
Marriage Encounter emphasizes the beauty of belonging totally to one another. Marriage Encounter teaches that marriage is a joyous celebration of God's plan for men and women, shared with the person chosen to be loved.
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What is a Marriage Encounter Weekend?
The Marriage Encounter Weekend is a positive and personal experience for a couple, which offers them a technique of loving communication that they can use for the rest of their lives. It's an opportunity for the couple to be alone together, to share their feelings, their hopes, fears, joys and frustrations. It is also a time for the couple to look deeply into their relationship with each other and with God.
Marriage Encounter is not a retreat, nor is it a marriage clinic or sensitivity course. It is not a time to look at the past, but rather to look at your future together. The weekend is a positive, simple, common sense experience between husband and wife, that revitalizes marriage by helping couples see what their relationship could and should be.
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Who is Marriage Encounter for?
Marriage Encounter is for any couple who wants to enrich their marriage. The weekend is designed to expand and deepen the joys a couple share together whether they've been married for a short time or for many years. Marriage Encounter is also for priests and religious who want to revitalize their relationship with the people of God and develop an even deeper appreciation for their own vocation.
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Who should NOT go for a Marriage Encounter Weekend?
The Marriage Encounter weekend is NOT
designed for couples who are having "problems" with
their marriage. There are no professional counsellors on a
weekend. There is another program, called Retrouvaille, for those
couples who are having difficulties with their marriages (and
either have been seeking professional help or are at the point of
seeking professional help). Select this link for more
information about Retrouvaille. or email to Singapore
Retrouvaille Team couple Michael & Lucy
All enquiries are handled in a confidential manner
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What happens at a Marriage Encounter?
An atmosphere is created on the weekend in which the couple can concentrate exclusively on one another. A series of talks are given by a team of trained couples and a priest. Each talk gives a husband and wife the opportunity to look at themselves as individuals, and to look at their relationship with each other, with God and with others. Marriage Encounter starts with the love you have for your spouse and helps you to build, expand and deepen that relationship. The weekend shows you the way to do this and provides you with the means - the rest is up to you! The only talent one must have to make a Marriage Encounter is the talent of love, and a desire to make a good marriage even better...
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Does the 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. There is no group discussion.
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How does a Marriage Encounter Weekend enhance the couple's marriage?
The fundamental difference between marriages that are good, average or poor is the level of communication between husband and wife. In all marriages, there are times when we take each other and our relationship for granted. The weekend presents each couple with the opportunity to get off the "Modern World Treadmill", to stop and to take a fresh look at the two of us, at our marriage, and at other priorities. We learn a communication technique which allows and encourages us to explore the important areas of our life together in a spirit of love and understanding. The weekend experience offers every couple the insights, the tools and the confidence to enrich their marriage and to strengthen their love for one another. For many couples "Their Weekend" is one of the most significant experiences of their lives.
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No!. The Weekend is presented by three Catholic couples and a Catholic priest. It is Catholic in its theology of marriage as a Sacrament of the Church, but couples of all Faiths can benefit from it and are encouraged to attend. A certain number of spaces are reserved each weekend for people of other Faiths.
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When and where are Weekends held?
Marriage Encounter Weekends are held monthly at:
Marriage Encounter House
201-B Ponggol Seventeenth Avenue
Singapore 829651
Tel Number : 386 0527
(Booking months in advance is advisable)
Note: See "Weekend Schedule"for weekend dates.
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How long does the Weekend last?
The Weekend begins on Friday evening at 8.00 pm (normally first Friday of the month) and ends Sunday evening at 6.30 pm. Mass will be on Sunday at the conclusion of the Weekend.
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What does Marriage Encounter cost?
A S$20.00 Non-Refundable Registration fee comfirms your booking. At the end of the Weekend each couple is given a blank envelope and asked for a donation which hopefully will cover the Weekend cost. The Weekend costs covers breakfasts, lunches, dinners, suppers, weekend materials and a comfortable air-conditioned bedroom amid peaceful and scenic surroundings. No one is ever refused the opportunity to make a Weekend because of lack of funds.
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Where can we find out more about Marriage Encounter?
INFORMATION NIGHTS are frequently held, which gives couples the opportunity to learn more about the Weekend and to chat with other couples who have experienced the Marriage Encounter.
Information Night is held regularly throughout Singapore at differenct locations. Please check for up-to-date details on our Home Page.
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Marriage Encounter Weekend Schedule, Singapore
Marriage Encounter Weekend Registration Form
Marriage Encounter Community in Singapore
Visit Other Marriage Encounter Websites Around The World
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This page is maintained by Anthony & Helen Please contact us with any suggestions or comments. This file updated on 3-November-1999