Welcome To Your Engaged Encounter Weekend!
We look forward to meeting you and sharing the Engaged Encounter Weekend with you!
The Engaged Encounter Weekend is filled with presentations that will help you prepare for
your lifetime commitment of marriage. Your love and commitment to God and each other
are wonderful gifts.
Please arrive at St. Martin’s between 6:15 and 6:45 pm on Friday evening to check into your
room. The weekend will start at 7:00 pm and conclude with Mass at approximately 3:00 pm
on Sunday. We ask you to bring an attitude of eagerness – to talk with your Finance, to pray
to God, and to hear where your inner life is going. We step away from ordinary life, from
work, from recreation, and from distractions to take time to listen. It’s a retreat and God will
speak to your heart. Be prepared to work, though, because this is a “working retreat”,
meaning you will be doing constant thinking, writing, praying, and dialoging with your fiancé.
The dialoguing takes place after each presentation to help prepare you for the Sacrament of
Matrimony. Many are surprised at how exhausted they are after they have attended an
Engaged Encounter Weekend and that is exactly what you should feel if you have put your
heart into the weekend.
We ask that each couple bring snacks to share at a common table that will be available to
everyone throughout the weekend. (Please let us know in advance if you have any special
dietary needs for meals.) Dress casually and comfortably. You may also wish to bring an
alarm clock and your favorite pen or pencil for the writing.
As a reminder, the total cost of the weekend is $150 per couple, which includes the rooms,
meals, and supplies. Of this, $50 is required to reserve your spot on the weekend and the
remainder will be collected on Friday evening when you check in. You will be sharing a
room with another man or woman, and towels and bedding are furnished by the facility. It is
important that you stay at the facility the entire time to help maintain the mood of the
Encounter. If you are unable to attend the entire weekend, please reschedule for another
time.
The location of the retreat is St. Martin’s Monastery (#343-8011). It is located between
Rapid City and Black Hawk off Sturgis Road (Hwy 79). There is a sign on Sturgis Road that
marks the entrance. Turn at the sign and follow the paved road for a quarter mile; the
Community Center entrance will be on your right – go up the steps with the blue hand rail.
Please call Connie or Greg at (605) 341-6032 if you have any questions, or let us know,
ASAP, if you are unable to attend because there are other couples waiting for this
opportunity.
We believe that marriage can be great! We believe in ourselves and in the work and love
we put into our marriage relationship - and we believe in you and your love for each other.
What a wonderful way to begin your married life together. We pray the Engaged Encounter
Weekend will be as special for you as it has been for many engaged couples. May God
bless you during this special time!
Love and Prayers,
Connie and Greg Forstner
605-341-6032
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