Welcome to the Catholic Engaged Encounter of Spokane website!
Engaged Encounter is designed to help you and your fiance continue to prepare for the rest of your life together. You've spent time researching the most beautiful dress, best photographer, and perfect flowers...
Engaged Encounter is a chance to spend time together; alone before your wedding date and to pray and talk about the issues that will help grow into your new life together.
Have any questions?
Check out our FAQ tab (below) and if you still have questions do not hesitate to send us an email at register@eespokane.org.
What is an Engaged Encounter Weekend?
Engaged Encounter is an investment in the future - a weekend experience in which an atmosphere is created that enables each couple to concentrate exclusively on one another while free of the pressures and interruptions of daily life. However, this weekend is not a recreational retreat. It is a program designed to give each couple an opportunity to discuss honestly with each other, in a face-to-face manner, their strengths and weaknesses, desires, ambitions, goals, their attitudes about money, sex, family, their role in the church and in society.
What happens on a Weekend?
Through a series of ideas presented by teams of married couples and a priest, the engaged couples are stimulated to dialogue privately on all aspects of married life, always from the viewpoint of their own relationship. Couples are given the opportunity to question, examine and deepen their relationship with each other. Through a series of writing and sharing exercises the couples are challenged to explore many aspects of their relationship in a much deeper, more honest way than they may have before. Personal reflection and dialogue are the main emphasis of the weekend, with the exception of meals and a few group activities interspersed.
Do we have to be Catholic?
No. Couples of all faiths are encouraged to take part as they prepare for marriage. Though the weekend is Catholic in orientation, couples of all faiths are welcome. In fact many couples that participate are inter-faith (i.e., one is Catholic, but not the other).
What is the cost?
The weekend is $325.00 per couple. Your fee includes two nights lodging, all meals Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon, and all supplies, handouts and administrative expenses. Engaged Encounter is a non-profit organization developed and presented by volunteers.
What should we bring to the weekend?
Please be sure to bring the following items with you: • Comfortable casual clothing • Toiletries, medicines and other personal items • A snack and drink (e.g., soft drink, juice, water) to place on the shared snack table • Any snack or drink items for your own personal consumption
What time should we arrive?
Please arrive between 7:30 and 7:45pm if at all possible. The weekend will begin at 8:00 p.m. Because we are on a tight schedule, we cannot wait for couples who arrive late. If there is an emergency and you must be late, please call the retreat center number.
What time does the weekend end?
The weekend typically ends at Noon on Sunday.
Will dinner be served on Friday evening? No, dinner will not be served on Friday. The dining room will not be open until Saturday morning. On Saturday, three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) will be served. On Sunday, two meals (breakfast and lunch) will be served.
Will I have a roommate?
No, you will each have your own room. While we recognize that couples may already be living together, you will not be permitted to share a room with your fiancé while on the weekend.
What will my room be like?
Your room will be very much like a college dorm room. It will have a bed, dresser, writing table, and a bathroom with a toilet and sink.
What about shower facilities?
Common shower facilities are located in the hall. The shower facilities are also much like those found in a college dormitory. For this reason, we suggest that you pack toiletries in a carrying case.
What should we wear?
Dress for the entire weekend is casual. Please dress comfortably. While you are welcome to do so, there is no need to change for dinner or Mass.
Will we have much free time this weekend?
No, the weekend is designed to be intense so that you can spend as much concentrated time together as possible preparing for your marriage. You may find that we stay up later and get up earlier than you typically would on a weekend.
Is there an emergency number?
If you need to contact the facility because of an emergency, or if someone needs to get hold of you in an emergency, please use the phone number for the retreat center: (509) 448-1224
Registration fees cover cost of room accommodations, food, and materials. However, there are other, not-so-obvious expenses. We rely on donor support to sustain Engaged Encounter of Spokane needs such as:
* Financial assistance for couples who could not otherwise attend a weekend.
* Enrichment activities for the couples and priests who volunteer in this ministry.
* Travel expenses for presenting teams who may need to fill in on an emergency basis in another state.
If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to Engaged Encounter of Spokane, please contact our Local Coordinators, Tim & Grace Trudnowski at register@eespokane.org.
Engaged Encounter is an opportunity to be involved in ministry as a couple. Not only will you be helping engaged couples, you will also strengthen your own marriage. How? You will be around other couples who, like you, place a high priority on healthy marriages.
The community is like a second family to each other. You will also have opportunities to enrich your marriage through participation on future weekends, enrichment weekends and district and national conventions.
Engaged Encounter is a non-profit organization and relies completely upon the married couples who volunteer their time and talent to this ministry. There are many different opportunities for you to help out:
* Presenting Team - Our presenting teams present our weekends, sharing their lives and passion for God-centered, life-giving marriage.
* Prayer - We have a wonderful community full of people that simply pray for our Engaged Couples.
* Host Team - Our host teams greet the Engaged Couples Friday nights and help them get situated for their weekend.
* Administration - There are several tasks that are ongoing which include: registration, supplies, finance, and more.
If you are interested in volunteering please contact our Local Coordinators, Tim & Grace Trudnowski. We would love to share this wonderful ministry with you.