The Sacrament of Marriage, by which a man and a woman form with each other an intimate sacred bond of communion in life and love, gives the couple the grace to love each other with the love of Christ for his Church. The Sacrament of Marriage is celebrated throughout the year, except during parts of Advent and parts of Lent. For parishioners of St. Helena Catholic Church or those within the parish boundaries, in order to properly prepare for this sacrament, a couple must contact the parish priest for an appointment at least six months prior to the anticipated date. For outside our parish area, please contact your home parish for their preparation requirements. We welcome all who would like to marry at our beautiful church in St. Helena.
Please contact our receptionist, Gladys De Haro, for scheduling: 707-963-1228 ext.10.
MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER
Marriage Encounter is the most successful and dynamic marriage enrichment experience in the world today. Since its beginnings in the United States in 1968, couples and priests have volunteered their time and energies to bring the Marriage Encounter Weekend to couples everywhere.
Today more than 2 million couples in over 91 countries have experienced the beauty and the gift of their Weekend. They want to share that experience with you because they found something worth passing on.
“I place much of my hope for the future in Marriage Encounter”
-Pope John Paul II
WHAT IS MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER?
Marriage Encounter is designed to give married couples the opportunity to examine their lives together . . . a time to share their feelings, their hopes, disappointments, joys and frustrations . . . and to do so openly and honestly in a face-to-face, heart-o-heart encounter with the one person each has chosen for a lifetime.
The emphasis of Marriage Encounter is on communication between the husband and wife, who spend a weekend together away from the distractions and the tensions of everyday life, to concentrate on each other.
It’s not a retreat, a marriage clinic, or group sensitivity. It’s a unique approach aimed at revitalizing Christian marriage.
This is a time for you to be alone together; to rediscover each other; and, together to focus on your relationship for an entire weekend. Every marriage deserves this kind of attention!
WHO IS IT FOR?
Marriage Encounter is for every married couple who desires a richer, fuller life together. A marriage can never be too good. Marriage Encounter is designed to deepen and enrich the joy a couple shares together, whether they have been married for only a short time or for many years. Marriage Encounter also provides support and encouragement to priests and religious who are dedicated to their state of life, but are eager to be greater.
WHAT HAPPENS AT A MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER?
A series of presentations is given by a team of Catholic couples and a Catholic Priest. Each presentation allows you and your spouse a rare opportunity to look at yourselves as individuals, then look at your marriage and your relationship to one another, and finally to look at your relationship to God, the Church and the world. The Weekend starts at 8:00 p.m. on Friday night and runs until Sunday evening.
HOW DOES A MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER ENHANCE A MARRIAGE?
The Encounter Weekend teaches a communication technique which permits each couple to explore important areas of their relationship in a spirit of love and understanding. By continuing the newly acquired technique begun on the Weekend husbands and wives continually grow closer to live more joyful and purposeful lives.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit the Marriage Encounter website athttp://sanfrancisco.ca.wwme.org. Also, watch the OLL Sunday Bulletin for Marriage Encounter Weekend announcements.
Retrouvaille
What is a Retrouvaille Program?
The word Retrouvaille™ (pronounced re-tro-vi with a long i.) is a French word meaning rediscovery. The program offers tools needed to rediscover a loving marriage relationship. Thousands of couples headed for cold, unloving relationships or divorce have successfully overcome their marriage problems by attending the program.
The Retrouvaille Program consists of a weekend experience combined with a series of 6-12 post-weekend sessions over 3 months. It provides the tools to help put your marriage in order again. The main emphasis of the program is on communication in marriage between husband and wife. It will give you the opportunity to rediscover each other and examine your lives together in a new and positive way.
Visit the website at http://www.helpourmarriage.com/.