wedding wisdom

Catholic Engaged Encounter

Introduction

Marriage is an important step and commitment in one’s life. Far from being merely a bride’s bouquet and a honeymoon, marriage involves one’s life and future happiness. Because of its importance, marriage preparation is necessary.

Most of us prepare for our career with at least 14 years of education. How much more necessary it is to prepare for marriage, which is for a lifetime.

History

The concept of the Engaged Encounter started in the US way back in 1968 as an outreach program of Marriage Encounter. Catholic Engaged Encounter (CEE) as it presently exists and is structured began weekends in the US in 1974.

CEE was brought to the Philippines through the effort of Rev. Fr. Dave Clay, mssc and a core group of six couples. The first CEE weekend was held on September 12-14, 1997. Up to February 2003, a total of 44 weekends have been conducted.

On 15 February 1999, the Simbahayan Commission, Archdiocese of Manila Marriage and Family Life Ministries, through its director, Rev. Fr. Delfin S. Felipe, endorsed CEE to all Parish Priests and family life coordinators of the archdiocese. Its endorsement states the CEE is acceptable to the commission and is at their disposal for marriage preparation.

CEE Weekends are conducted in countries such as the US, Canada, Korea, Australia, Spain, Costa Rica, Mexico, just to mention a few. CEE Philippines belongs to the Ocenic Region, which is composed of Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Singapore, Korea, Malaysia and soon Indonesia and Japan.

What is Catholic Engaged Encounter?

The Catholic Engaged Encounter (CEE) is a marriage preparation program. It is conducted in a weekend format and is given to couples preparing for marriage. During the weekend, engaged couples are given the opportunity to examine their lives together through communication. It is a time for them to share their feelings, hopes, disappointments, joys and frustrations and to do so openly and honestly in a face-to-face, heart to heart setting designed to deepen and enrich their relationships with each other and with God.

This is a time for couples to focus on their couple relationship away from the distractions and tensions of everyday life.

Do I have to be a Catholic?

No. The CEE program is open to all couples considering marriage. The weekend is a Catholic experience and is Catholic in its theology of marriage as a Sacrament of the Church. However, couples from all religions are welcome.

What happens on this weekend?

A team of two married couples and a priest share on various topics pertaining to married life. The weekend also provides couples the opportunity to hear first hand how others are working at their marriage. Each couple then privately discusses these aspects of marriage from the viewpoint of their own relationship.

The focus of the weekend is on couple reflection, discovery, understanding, and development of a lifelong communication technique.

Throughout the weekend, each couple is given time to explore and share the strengths of their relationship and the areas for growth, their desires and attitudes, about marriage, sexuality, family, children, money, God and Church.

The Christian values of commitment and responsibility to marriage, God, and to the Church community are emphasized.

What are the weekend costs, location and schedule?

Weekend fee is PhP4,000 per couple. This amount may vary depending on the retreat house that will be used. This covers accommodation, meals, supplies, etc.

The CEE Weekend is held at different retreat houses in and around Metro Manila.You may request for a map for your easy access to this month’s retreat house by calling any of the couples listed below.

The weekend commences at 5:30 pm on Friday and concludes, at approximately, 5:00 pm on Sunday. Please make arrangement to be in the retreat house for the duration of the weekend.

What couples have said about the CEE....

“Big, big eye opener, a lot of discoveries about my partner and even about myself – free feeling.”
– Mike and Bimbim

“Very helpful to us, enabled us to realize that God should always be a part of our marriage.”
– Peter and Pam

“We have become more caring, honest and open to each other.” – Butch and Arni

“We are more open to forgiveness, accepting of each other’s limitations. We now have a better understanding of the Sacrament of Matrimony."
– Rany and Joy

“I came a little skeptical, being raised a Lutheran. I thought the Catholic Religion would be emphasized in an uncomfortable way. I thank you for making non-Catholics feel welcome.”

“Thank you for the fabulous weekend. I really liked the time spent alone with my fiancé.”

“I wish I had known about this weekend straight after we were engaged, because I would have more time to experience with my fiancé the joy and happiness of being engaged instead of worrying so much about what was going to happen in the future.”

THINKING MARRIAGE? THINK CATHOLIC ENGAGED ENCOUNTER!

Year 2008 CEE-Phils. Weekend Schedule^*
*CEE retreats are held every other month. Dates and venue might change from time to time, so please call them 2 to 3 weeks before each weekend for verification.

venue:

CFM-Nazareth Home, Horseshoe Drive, QC

contact information:

Fr. Dave Clay | 523.3361
Dado & Cory Hipolito | 810.0222
Robbie & Bernadette Fabian | 829.6182
Ike & Ana Madamba | 726.6568
Chin & Lorna Fernandez |744.5581
Vinchy & Elisha Lirios | 721.4153
email: ceephilippines@yahoo.com

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