Marriage Encounter Weekend

Dear Parishioners,

Shortly after I was ordained a priest, a couple from my first parish assignment invited me to go on a Marriage Encounter Weekend.  That request may sound a little bit ridiculous to you, at first, as it did to me—obviously I was not married!  However, I remember being told in the seminary not to be afraid to try to experience various activities like this one to see what it was like.  So I decided to go.  I didn’t know much about what was going to happen but I still went.

The experience was one that changed my life and my priesthood profoundly.  Over twenty years later I am still involved with Worldwide Marriage Encounter and despite my many other pastoral duties I continue to present these weekends annually.

Marriage Encounter claims that it helps to make good marriages better.  I believe that it does that and more.  The result certainly can vary from couple to couple but I rarely see couples who really give the weekend a chance not have something significant come out of it.  For some the weekend is profoundly life-changing!

How are things going in your marriage?  Has it become routine?  Does it seem like the initial spark is flickering or missing altogether?  Do you long for a deeper intimacy with your spouse?  Do you just want to spend some quality time with each other?  Why not think about making a Marriage Encounter Weekend?

Without going into all the details, I can tell you that the experience is personal and private between the individual couple.  It doesn’t matter how long you are married—from newlyweds to those celebrating a major anniversary.  All that is needed is a willing couple who wants to make their relationship and marriage better.

What was the last thing that you actually did to improve the quality of your marriage relationship?

Here’s an opportunity for you.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor