Marriage Encounter

Question: Has anyone been to a worldwide marriage encounter? What is this for and is it a worthwhile class?

Answer: Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME) is an enrichment experience primarily for married couples. It's designed to help couples relive the excitement and romance of the days when they were first married, and shows them how to keep it alive. It also teaches a specific communication technique that couples are encouraged to take home with them and use after the Weekend. WWME Weekends are also open to priests and religious. On the WWME Weekend, couples hear a series of presentations on various topics related to marriage, like "Sharing Feelings" and "Listening". After each talk, couples are directed to write a reflection based on the talk, then they share their reflections with each other in private. Worldwide Marriage Encounter usually given at a hotel, retreat center, or college campus over the course of a weekend, from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. There are also the "Worldwide Marriage Encounter Experience" (WWMEE), which is the same outline as the Weekend, but is given in a non-residential setting, with several sessions over the course of a week. The WWMEE is only offered in a limited geographical area, and are much less common that the Weekend. Most WWME Weekends require advance registration with a registration fee of $25-$100, plus a free-will donation is requested during the weekend to cover its actual cost. No couple is ever turned away from a WWME Weekend because they cannot afford it. WWME Weekends are offered in a variety of "faith expressions", the most common of which is Roman Catholic. Couples of any faith are welcome at all WWME weekends.

Question: What is Worldwide Marriage encounter? Does anyone know of Worldwide Marriage Encounter? Can you tell me about your experience with it?

Answer: Marriage Encounter (M.E.) is a religiously-based weekend program designed to help married couples improve their marriage, grow closer to each other, and improve commitment to each other. Originally a Catholic marriage renewal program, Marriage Encounters are now offered by a variety of Protestant, Jewish, as well as Catholic faith expressions. Most all of them are open to couples of any or no religious persuasion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worldwide_Marriage_Encounter

Question: Does anyone remember Marriage Encounter from the 1970's - 1980's? I wonder if the churches still have it. It didn't work for my former marriage but we did have some good moments during it.

Answer: It seems I do remember something like that since, in the '70's at least, there were a plethora of "self help" and "human potential" workshops. Ironically, that's when I began my training for a career in the mental health field. But, I can't be more specific about what I remember about the "Marriage Encounter" stuff since there were so many such activities, and, as the old adage goes, "I've slept since then"(lol). Sorry I can't be of more help. God Bless you.

Question: How is the Baptism, Eucharistic, Reconciliation and marriage sacraments an encounter with Christ?

Answer: Baptism is how you get 'in Christ', the Lord's Supper is His God-ordained memorial, reconciliation is what He has done for us, and marriage is a convenant relationship between one man and one woman for life. Christ should be a part of all of the above. God BLess

Question: what happens at a marriage encounter weekend?

Answer: Group sex..........GOOD

Question: Anyone attended/ heard of Catholic "marriage encounter" weekend called Retrovaille? Girlfriend attended it because her marriage is on the rocks, and came back saying that the principal message of the weekend was that "love is a decision." She wasn't sure if she was buying this or not and asked my opinion. I wanted to know if anyone else had personal experience or friends who attended this "Retrovaille" and had any opinions - whether positive or negative regarding the weekend or the principle of "Love is a decision" that I can pass along to her. Thanks. Reason for troubled marriage: Husband caught in months-long affair. This is about the 5th affair she has found about during their 20 year marriage. They have 2 children together (one adolescent / other preschooler).

Answer: Retrouvaiile is NOT marriage Encounter. ME makes good marriages stronger. Retrovaille is for troubled, painful marriages. It is good she went. It is true- Love is a decision. If it is all lust and hormones, it is just that- lust and hormones. If you decide you are going to love someone, unconditionally, then you do. I really can't explain it otherwise. My husband had an affair, I decided we were staying married. I heard about retrovaille and asked my trusted priest friend. he told me I had already lived it better than they could teach it, because I had decided I meant it when I made my vows before God the day we were married. I had decided to love him, and I intended to live out that love. The rest comes eventually. it is hard to explain. It is like the old arranged marriages that never involved love. The couples did learn to love each other. If things are rough, and you decide to love...well, eventually it happens...the feeling comes more naturally...but it takes time, effort, a true commitment to the Sacrament of Matrimony....and faith in Jesus Christ.

Question: Does anyone remember Marriage Encounter from the 70's and 80's? Did you get a permanent boost to your marriage from it? Edit*** Real Talk - if ya aren't from the era then just don't answer. Oh, yeah, yer welcome for the 2 easy points.

Answer: Pffftt...a scam by the Catholic church to decrease divorces and annulments. You even got a decal for your car, remember? That went along with CYO and the book they issued called "The Electric Bible". A catechism designed to be 'hip' and more in tune with the youth of the day. I should know. I was one of those youths who they failed to convince. Guess it's because I asked too many questions.

Question: Are there any books out there about how to help save a marriage.? I am looking for a book that might have 365 ways ( each way would be like an activity for the two of us to do together everyday of the year to help strengthen our marriage. ) of helping the marriage. I am looking for something to help us until I can get us into a Marriage Encounter through the church. A marriage counselor is very costly.

Answer: My cousin was also facing problem with her marriage. Someone recommend me this e-book, although like anybody else I was very skeptical about it but my cousin says it helped her a lot. I didn’t know very much about your situation but you should give it a try. http://budurl.com/savemarriage

Question: Did you know you could already be having the real marriage encounter with Christ?

Answer: huh?

Question: Is marriage encounter still around?

Answer: no - died

Question: Have you ever had someone try and blackmail you for having email encounters outside of your marriage? Just wondering, I have been playing around with email romance for a cheap thrill but worry if someone could try and blackmail a person for it, or if that happens....

Answer: A guy I know put an ad for women. One of his gf's friends saw it. So he had his other friend say that it was a joke on the guy that the guys friend put the ad about him as a joke. It was a close call but she made him marry her before she will trust him. He married her but he's still a dog. JUST MORE CAREFUL NOW.

Question: What are the negative consequences of having sex with other women before taking marriage vows? I am about to get married in a month. I am looking forward to the next chapter of my life with a new wife but not so much to losing my freedom of having sex with other women whenever I want. I've been trying desperately to have as many sexual encounters as possible these days and planning to do it right up to the day we get married? Anyone who has done exactly what I am doing knows the possible negative consequences of doing this? Should I tell my new wife about this after the marriage?

Answer: Don't tell her after the marriage. Tell her before the marriage. This act will also answer you first question.

Question: To Americans: is it something unusual if a girl chose to stay virgin until marriage? I'm being told that being a virgin in United States isn't something rare to encounter, Is it true or it depend on some criteria.

Answer: 62% of girls and 74% of guys are not virgins by the end of 11th grade (16 or 17 years old). So yes staying a virgin until marriage is unusual. Personally I think everyone should have sex before marriage. That lets them know what they like and if their future husband/wife is sexually compatible with them.

Question: Im going to a rally for same sex marriage rights tomorrow...How many loving Christians will I encounter? Those stats dont surprise me. A few of my gay friends are Catholic Loving Christians does equal fundos. Im just wanting to point out their intolerance as they are the loudest Christians I live in Queensland. Backwards state. Theres plenty of them here. Theyre just not as loud as in the US. I also think living in a city of 1.5 million helps quieten them down aswell kenn - until we have true equality in this world, that means women, gays, people of different races, the working class we will never have freedom

Answer: I doesn't matter how many you meet tomorrow, I would guarantee that in 100 years time (if there are any Christians then) that they will look back on these times and shudder. Then they'll just get on with their same sex relationships and women priests realising it didn't make the blindest bit of difference to them, but it did to the ones if freed. I seem to remember something about slavery, racial segregation and Christianity going together once also, within some peoples' lifetimes. I suspect the opposition to same sex marriages will go the same way. It's a pity it's such hard work making Christians and other theists grow up to the realities of this world and not the mythical next.

Question: To American Expats: Is it something unusual if a girl chose to stay virgin until marriage? I'm being told that being a virgin in United States isn't something rare to encounter, Is it true or it depend on some criteria.

Answer: It is unusual for a girl to stay virgin in America. As days go by it only becomes more and more unusual. When I was in high school all my friends were doing it. They are not even bad kids. They made very good grades, they held proper jobs, had good plans for the future. But they had sex. It got to a point where my friends even started pointing out that I was the most innocent one out of the group. They were still very close to me and our relationship was the same. But it always felt like I am different from them because everyone around me has done it. Even if they hadn't done it, they have gone very close to doing it and doesn't mind doing it. In the study, published in Public Health Reports, researchers analyzed data from four cycles of the National Survey of Family Growth from 1982 to 2002, which included information on sexual and marital behaviors. The results showed that the vast majority of Americans have sex before marrying. For example, the 2002 survey showed: By age 20, 77% of men and women had had sex, including 75% who had had premarital sex. By age 44, 95% of men and women had had premarital sex; 97% of those who had ever had sex had had premarital sex. The results are from 2002. and look at the percentages. 75, 95!! It has only gotten worse since then. As days go by it keeps becoming more and more normal. Even parents no longer object because they know chances of their kids staying a virgin till marriage is slim to none.

Question: Why do whites think interracial marriage is a sin? 99.5 percent of the world opposes it, especially in European countries, despite the fact that 99.8 percent of everyone prefer their own species. I singled these people out for a reason because most of the anti-IR I've encountered on the web are those things. Why do these people oppose inter-species marriages despite that everyone prefer their own species? I know I'm going to get hate answers with dumb f's calling me a troll trying to be funny. Two words - FY!

Answer: my parents freak out when i didn't marry my own species, my wife was a sheep

Question: How old were you when you had your first sexual encounter (or experimentation) with the same sex? I was eleven. She was 10 or 11. When her parents found out they told mine. Then came the "birds and the bees story" from grandma and I was informed it was wrong to be with the same sex in a sexual way and that it shouldn't be done until marriage. I don't think I really realized what we were doing was sex until then but I was never punished for it. Just instructed it was wrong. How old were you? Just curious...

Answer: 28

Question: Sexual encounters before marriage, yes or no good people? saving ur self ladies & gents or are you simply casual about such matters? Would you take back ur virginity if you could & re-do it all over again??

Answer: No. I'm waiting til marriage.

Question: How was your first sexual encounter after saving yourself and then getting marrried? A question so the younger ones can understand that premarital sex isn't all it's cracked up to be. HOnestly, there are sooo many questions about " sex w/ or w/out a condom/my boyfriend and I want to have sex.. "etc... I would like to have this question on record for those who have faithfully waited till marriage(like u should) and made love to their husband/wife on their wedding night. Don't people understand that when you wait until you are married you are not missing anything- Except an std or two ,maybe an abortion. It's even more amazing when you do wait!! Why would u need someone w/ experience? If it's both peoples first time you aren't going to have anything to compare it to. Right? I agree- You both learn more each time you do it. And again to add... I did have premarital sex- when we first got married sex was just PART of being married. But I let God do a little work in our marriage (especially in teh intimacy area) and It is AMAZING! Sorry.. just need to say that when you do it right.. MARRIAGE IS amazing and everything it is cracked up to be!!! Those who say other wise are either scared of committment or bow to their own lust and don't want to committ for fear of not gettingto sleep w/ anyone else.

Answer: My wife and I didn't wait till our wedding night to have sex, but my wife is the only women I have had sex with and I know for a fact that I am the only man my wife has had sex with. So in a way we did wait till we were married. When we made the decision to have intercourse, it was done full knowing the consequences and the responsibilities of what we were doing. We picked the first anniversary of our engagement (we were engaged for more than 2 years...mostly to finish college) and you are right it was amazing.

Question: Married couples any bumps in the road before marriage? Did you and your current spouse have any issues that you had to overcome while in the dating or in the long term relationship stage? What were the problems that you've encountered? Did you guys come to pass with them or do they still creep up? How long were you two together before marriage? How long have you been married? What are some issues that you feared might still be a problem after you two were married?

Answer: He felt I blamed him a lot. He stills feels like that at times. I don't and I have really tried hard to change the way I approach him or the way I say things because I really don't want him to feel that way. I am still trying because I know I haven't got it down 100% yet. However, his sensitivity to what I say also changes depending on his mood and what else is going on in life. We dated 18 months and have been married 5 years. EDIT: If you have problems that concern you now.... be aware, marriage doesn't make them go away. People do not change just because they say "I do".