The preparation of engaged couples for marriage through the Engaged Encounter weekend was started in Kelowna in 1978 at the request of Bishop Doyle.
The training of priests and married couples for this ministry began in mid 1976. Workshops were attended in Winnipeg, Spokane, Seattle. The first team couples to attend the weekends engaged encounter for the Kelowna parishes: Ted and Bernice Fetherston, Elmer and Annette Leib, Mike and Bernard Smit.
The first weekend for engaged couples was held in April 1978 at the Easter Seal Camp in Winfield. Fr. Mulvihill, the Leibs and Smits bravely undertook the duties of the first team, with 16 engaged couples in attendance. The kitchen crew hauled all of the groceries out to the camp and provided great meals for all. The Diocese of Nelson became the first in B.C. to hold Engaged Encounter weekends on a regular basis.
After holding several weekends at Winfield and Camp Owaissi on the west side, the decision was made to hold the encounters at Immaculata High School. Since 1981 all weekends have been at the school, through the courtesy of the school board and the administrator Fr. Brian Sweeney, C.S.B.
In 1979 Alfred and Mary Tereposky and Murray and Joan White became team couples. Fr. Wayne Pfliger became a team priest the same year. Fr. Joe Smith joined the team in 1980.
In 1984 Bud and Judy Nistor and Allan and Norma Southward gave their first weekends as members of the team. In 1085 it is hoped that two other couples will have completed their presentations and be ready to become team couples.
The couples who have organized and supervised the kitchen crew over the years are Henry and Frances de Montreuil, Paul and Ruby Leinemann and Gilbert and Florence Nagy. The Catholic community is fortunate to have such dedicated people. Many other dedicated couples have worked in the kitchen, written prayer letters and helped in other ways to make the Engaged Encounters so successful.
Comments by couples who have made the Engaged Encounter
"It has improved our communication greatly and made us realize more than ever the work and love that must go into a marriage to keep it strong and growing."
"Thanks for helping us get off on the right foot in our marriage--we have a better understanding of God's role in marriage. We really weren't aware that is was so large--."
"I personally feel this weekend has been the best one of my life. I have had troubles in our engagement and throughout this weekend, I have found out how to solve a major problem with God's love and understanding. He has solved this troubled area for me and has given me a new outlook on life. This weekend has brought me closer to God and to my fiancée."
"Although we were dubious at first about coming to the weekend, we discovered that through hearing the talks and the openness of the team couples we felt more encouraged to be open with each other. As a result of this, we have learned more about each other and ourselves, and thus achieved a greater union."
"We faced problems that have been in
our relationship and just did not want to look at, we feel more confident about
being really open to each other."
