"Since God created him man and woman, their mutual love becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God love man."
- Catechism of the Catholic Church page 401 paragraph 1604

Catholic Engaged Encounter is a weekend retreat utilizing the dynamic process based on listening, writing, and dialogue. The emphasis of the weekend is quiet and low key. The retreat is specifically designed for private communication between the man and woman. The Encounter is a very demanding, intense weekend. It requires that both are serious about their relationship and are willing to take a risk and deepen their knowledge of each other. 

The method of the retreat consists of a series of personal presentations by two married couples and a priest. After each presentation the engaged couple is asked to write separtly, responding to a series of statements and  questions, then exchange replies with each other and spend some time dialoguing about the responses. The engaged couple spends the entire retreat listening, writing and talking together about themselves as an engaged, and soon to be, married couple.

We try to maintain a quiet peaceful atmosphere in which each couple can concentrate exclusively on one another, free of the tensions, pressures and interruptions of the world. This, we believe, gives the couple and opportunity to reflect deeply on goals and attitudes about money, sex, children, family, and their role in the church and society; and to discuss them in a face-to-face way.

All Catholic Engaged Encounter retreats, within the Diocese of Lafayette, are held at the Acadian Baptist Center in Richard, Louisiana. Please visit site for cost and additional information.

2024 Catholic Engagement Encounter Weekends: Jan. 26th-28th, April 26th-28th, Sept. 13th-15th (for cost, other dates, and to learn more click the link below or call Mike & Phillis Totaro 337-962-5798)

  Click link below

The Diocese of Lafayette

 **Once on the site, click offices then scroll down list on left side to Marriage and Family Life