Catholic engaged encounter is first and foremost a retreat for engaged couples to get away from the daily grind of life and wedding planning, and take time to truly focus on each other and the life you are starting together. The sharing parts of the weekend occur privately between you and your fiance’ in an environment that allows you to truly focus on your relationship without outside input or distraction. A couple that comes into the weekend with an open mind and heart will get the chance to further and deepen their relationship in a meaningful and real way that is difficult to do in our busy everyday lives.
Among the subjects you will have an opportunity to discuss with each other are your ambitions, goals, attitudes about God, sex, money, children, family, and your role in the church and community. Personal reflection and couple discussion are the main focus of our weekend. Since each relationship is in a different place, your private answers will be unique and special to your relationship. While the weekend is primarily for couples who wish to have a sacramental marriage within the Catholic Church, all faiths are welcome and respected on a weekend.
Weekends are held at the Capuchin Center for Spiritual Life at 804 Cathedral Ave in Victoria, KS.
The weekend costs $300 per couple. This price includes all your meals and expenses for the weekend.
Click on the date of the weekend you wish to register for above. You must contact your pastor or the person(s) responsible for your marriage preparation to let them know you have registered for the weekend, they will need to know you have registered for the weekend.
Please be sure to bring the following items with you:
The following items will be provided on the weekend. You do NOT need to bring these items:
Please arrive between 7:00 and 7:30 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 Capuchin Center for Spiritual Life at 785-735-9393. You may also have your family use this phone number for emergencies only.
The weekend typically ends, with a closing Mass, between 1 and 2 pm on Sunday. In special or unusual circumstances, our schedule may change, but the weekend should still run no later than 4 pm.
It is very important that you stay for the entire weekend. If you arrive late or leave early you will miss important parts of the weekend experience, and we will not be able to give you your weekend certificate verifying your attendance.
Yes, we do ask that you observe a few basic rules.
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.
Please let the registration couple know of your special needs when you register. We will do our best to accommodate you.
While we try to give everyone a private sleeping area, there is a possibility you may be doubled up in a room with someone of the same sex as yourself. In this case you will have separate beds in a larger 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. If you have trouble doing stairs or difficulty walking, please let our registration couple know at the time you register so that we can place you on the main floor where the majority of the weekend will take place.
Your room will be very much like a college dorm room. It will have a bed, dresser, writing table, and perhaps a recliner. There are no locks on the doors.
Common shower facilities are located at the ends of 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. You may also want to bring shower flip flops.
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. We will celebrate Mass on Saturday and Sunday so please dress accordingly.
All of our facilities prohibit smoking. You may, however, smoke in the designated area outside of the building.
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. Time permitting; we will have a break on Saturday afternoon and as time permits.
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 number for the Capuchin Center for Spiritual Life at 785-735-9393. They will be able to contact the team who will relay the message onto you. We ask that you leave your cell phones in your rooms or in your vehicles during the weekend to allow you to focus on each other without any outside distractions. You are welcome to check your messages or make calls before the first talk in the morning or the last talk in the evening or during the scheduled breaks.
If you must cancel your weekend, please do so at least 1 week prior to the start of your weekend there is a $50 cancellation fee. If 1-week notice is not given, registration fees will not be refunded.
Contact the Office of Family Life & NFP
785-827-8746
Office hours:
Monday-Thursday : 9 am to 5 pm
Fridays : 9 am to 12 noon