Worldwide Marriage Encounter
ME
Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME) is the largest faith-based marriage enrichment organization in the world. Our programs have enriched and transformed the lives of married couples and priests for generations. We offer a peer-to-peer experience, typically over a weekend, where married couples and priests can pause and reflect privately on the meaning of their vocations and are given the tools for nurturing their love. Our mission is to proclaim the value of marriage and holy orders in the Church and in the world. Established in 1968, WWME is still the most popular marriage enrichment program in the world, annually presenting 2,000 experiences in nearly 100 countries. In North America, more than 1,600 couples and priests (known as “presenting teams”) hold Marriage Encounter experiences in English, Spanish, French, and Korean. WWME’s support groups exist in virtually every diocese of the US and Canada.
Our Mission
The mission of Worldwide Marriage Encounter is to proclaim the value of Marriage and Holy Orders in the Church and in the world.
History
The roots of Worldwide Marriage Encounter go back to 1952 when a young priest in Spain, Fr. Gabriel Calvo, developed a series of conferences for married couples. For about 10 years the Marriage Teams of Pope Pious XII traveled throughout Spain presenting sessions for married couples. Each presentation during the conference ended with a question that would help the couple look deeper at their own relationship through intimate and trusting conversation.
The Experience
The Worldwide Marriage Encounter experience is primarily a space for you to pause, reflect, and reconnect privately.
While faith is a powerful part of this process, the focus of the Marriage Encounter experience is on the ups and downs of married life.
Married couples of any denomination, mixed-faith, or without religious affiliation are welcome!
Faithful to the Roman Catholic Church’s definition that marriage is a covenant that exists between one man and one woman, any reference to “marriage” or “couple” made by Worldwide Marriage Encounter is in this context.
There’s no group discussion.
- Exploring our personality styles
- Appreciating our differences
- Listening in a new way
- Communicating intimately
- Addressing difficult topics
- Discovering God’s desire for our marriage
- Continuing the journey
ME WEEKEND
Over a weekend or in seven three-hour sessions, the Marriage Encounter experience will give you the tools to remain strong as a couple and be a united force to provide a stable and loving environment for your children. As you become empty-nesters, you can use the same tools to continue growing and thriving in your relationship, living a lifetime love.
A Marriage Encounter is not couples therapy. There is no counseling. The experience consists of presentations followed by private time between husband and wife.
If the word “Encounter” sounds scary to you, you’re not alone. But don’t let it turn you off. During your Worldwide Marriage Encounter experience you and your spouse will “encounter” an entirely new way to communicate with each other that you may have never “encountered” before.
Faithful to the Roman Catholic Church’s definition that marriage is a covenant that exists between one man and one woman, any reference to “marriage” or “couple” made by Worldwide Marriage Encounter is in this context.
Registration and Inquiries:
Church representatives or Southern California ME representatives
John and Madelina Hong 847-567-1105
