FAQ
At CATHOLIC ENGAGED ENCOUNTER CANADA INC., we’ve done our best to create a website that anticipates and satisfies our customers’ needs. With that goal in mind, we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions, or FAQ. If you do not find an answer to your question here, contact us with your inquiry.
Q. What is Engaged Encounter?
A. Engaged Encounter or ‘EE’ is a movement that grew out of the Marriage Encounter retreat program. Marriage Encounter was developed for Catholic couples who wished to strengthen their relationship and commitment to each other in the Sacrament of Marriage and take it to a deeper level with God as their focus and ultimate source of strength and nourishment. People from Marriage Encounter were thrilled by the many blessing married couples were receiving. They understood how wonderful it would be if young couples preparing for a lifetime commitment in marriage could receive these gifts before they actually got married.
Q. What happens on an EE weekend?
A. The best way to answer this question is by coming on an EE weekend and experiencing it for yourself! There’s nothing like seeing and experiencing first hand any faith related retreat. One thing is for sure, God will bless you both abundantly the more you open your relationship to Him and His wonderful guidance. One thing that is important to remember is each weekend is a little different and each couple (as well as individual) will have a different experience of an EE weekend for we are all unique creations of God!
Q. Is it religious?
A. The EE weekend was designed for couples preparing to receive the Sacrament of Marriage in the Roman Catholic Church. The focus is always on the couple and God’s desire to love you through your partner. The team illustrates through sharing their own experiences how God has called them to love each other and how together they are called to be witnesses to the world.
Q. If I am not a practicing Catholic, can I still attend an EE weekend?
A. All are welcome. However, all the talks are coming from the perspective that at least one of the individuals is a Catholic and that the other is willing to enter into the Sacrament of Marriage in the Roman Catholic Church. Therefore, while not imperative that you practice your faith, at least one of you would be a baptized Catholic, would have received their First Communion and would have made their Confirmation as a Roman Catholic. If you are not getting married in the R.C. Church, perhaps EE. is not the best choice of marriage preparation for you. This should be determined by you with the advice of your minister or official celebrating your ceremony.
Q. Do we have separate bedrooms?
A. Yes. While some couples may actually already be living together before marriage, it is important to recognize and respect Catholic Church teaching which does not condone premarital sex. The Church’s teaching on this sensitive issue is quite beautiful and we encourage all couples to become acquainted with it.
Q. Are there professional speakers?
A. The team is made up of two Catholic married couples and a priest. While you can definitely consider the priest a “professional”, the two couples are each gifted with talents and professions that vary from person to person, couple to couple, depending upon which weekend you attend.
Q. Why choose EE?
A. Engaged Encounter is one of many marriage preparation ‘courses’ offered in the diocese of Montreal. Each of these marriage prep. programs has it’s strengths but we at EE have chosen to minister to engaged couples because we believe in the program. It was created and developed by a team of gifted people who believed that couples needed much more than pure will-power to make their marriage succeed; they needed God! It really is almost impossible to do it alone but Engaged Encounter helps couples to see how important it is to include God in their relationship. True joy is found in God alone and hopefully the couples will come away with a deeper understanding and appreciation of this reality after their EE weekend.
Q. How much does it cost?
A. There is fee for the weekend per couple which includes five meals and accommodation for two nights at the Villa. Please see our Sessions and Bookings page for more details.