On March 11, the decree recognizing Worldwide Marriage Encounter as an International Private Association of the Faithful was signed in Rome. The following day, a Worldwide Marriage Encounter delegation was granted an audience with Pope Leo XIV. A press release provided by Worldwide Marriage Encounter stated: “The decree, presented by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life affirms the place of Worldwide Marriage Encounter within the life of the Church as a lay movement serving married couples and clergy in their vocation. … The Vatican’s recognition acknowledges not only the structure of the movement, but the lived witness of those who have carried it forward—couples, priests and religious who have dedicated themselves to fostering stronger marriages, supporting ministry, and building relationships rooted in faith.”

Locally, Worldwide Marriage Encounter has had a steady ministry in the Diocese of Birmingham. In late April, St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman will host the next Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend from April 24-26. The weekend is designed to give married couples the opportunity to examine their lives together. A time to share their feelings, hopes, disappointments, joys, and frustrations, and do so openly and honestly in a face-to-face, heart-to-heart environment with the one person they have chosen to live with for the rest of their lives. It’s a weekend to rediscover their relationship. It’s not a retreat, nor a marriage clinic, nor group sensitivity. It’s a unique approach aimed at revitalizing Christian marriage.

What happens at a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend?

A team of Catholic couples and a Catholic priest give a series of presentations. Each presentation allows couples a rare opportunity to look at themselves as individuals, their marriage, and their relationship to one another. Finally, the couple looks at their relationship to God, the Church, and to the world.       

The weekend starts at 7 p.m. on Friday and runs until about 4 p.m. on Sunday. Worldwide Marriage Encounter invites all married couples to renew the romance, revitalize their marriage, communicate more openly, find deeper intimacy, focus on their spouse and share the joy by attending the Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend.

For more information or to register, please visit wwme.org or call Frank and Kathryn Wessling at 205.530.3607.