What is Marriage Encounter?

Marriage Encounter is a process designed to give you and your spouse the opportunity to examine your life together; reasons to celebrate and areas to improve. Just like other priorities in your life, your marriage requires care and attention.

Marriage Encounter has been going strong in the Jefferson City area for over 30 years. More than 1000 couples have made their Encounter. Couples married from 1 year to over 50 years have all benefited from the experience.

Couples who attend Marriage encounter have frequently remarked that it was "not at all what we were expecting," and are sometimes quite relieved to find out what Marriage Enounter is not:

Marriage Encounter is NOT for marriages in trouble. Marriage Encounter was designed to help you refresh and renew your marriage and take your marriage to an even deeper, more satisfying level. That is not to say that won't help if a couple is having problems, but solving problems is not its main purpose. A Marriage Encounter weekend is all about making a good marriage great!
Marriage Encounter is NOT a sensitivity or group therapy course. Encountering couples are not asked to share personal information about their marriage with the group. The weekend consists of a series of presentations and reflection time allowing you to focus on your own thoughts and feelings, your spouse and your relationship.
Marriage Encounter is NOT a social weekend. Although there is some social time with other couples during meals, the weekend is intended to give you some real 'quality time' with your spouse.
Marriage Encounter is NOT marriage counseling. At a Marriage Encounter weekend, team couples share their experiences with you and teach you a proven method of communication. We are not counselors, only married couples who want to share the Marriage Encounter process with you.
Marriage Encounter is NOT a faith experience. Although Marriage Encounter is Christian based organization, the goal of the weekend is the re-awakening of the real joys of marriage. A deepening of your personal faith, while it may be a fringe benefit for some, is secondary to the deepening of a couple's love for one another. Married couples of any faith and/or demonination are welcome at a Marriage Encounter weekend.

What to expect at a Marriage Encounter Weekend
The weekend is composed of a series of presentations given by three or four married couples-- who, just like you, have decided their marriage is important. The team couples found Marriage Encounter to be so beneficial to their relationship and family life that they trained to be on team to help you discover the gift of renewed love. Couples will relate their experiences - the good, the bad, -- and the funny -- and give you questions to ponder and discuss.

History of Marriage Encounter:
The Marriage Encounter program was developed in the late 1950's in Spain by Father Gabriel Calvo and the Spanish Christian Family Movement. In the summer of 1966, it was introduced into South America and Mexico and spread to the Spanish speaking communities in the United States. The first English Marriage Encounter was given as part of the Christian Family Movement convention at Notre Dame in 1968.

Eight couples and six religious from that first encounter were asked to spread it to the English speaking people in the U.S. and Canada. The first two couples from the Mid-Missouri area, along with a nun and a priest, made their encounter in St. Louis in December of 1972. Since 1975, Marriage Encounter weekends have been held on a regular basis.

To get more information about Marriage Encounter feel free to contact any of the couples listed on the Contact Info page. These couples have all made their own Marriage Encounter weekends and would gladly answer any questions that you may have. For information on participating in a Marriage Encounter weekend, visit the Weekend Retreats page. This page has information about the cost of a weekend, dates, locations, and has all of the information you need to get signed up, and we look forward to seeing you there!