Supporting Your Marriage

For marriages old and new, weathering rough times or smooth sailing, the Church sincerely wishes to support your marriage and the beautiful gift it is to you, to the Church, and to society as a whole.

Please see below for some programs currently offered in our diocese, programs coming soon, and some additional resources. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our office for help. May God bless your marriage!

Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WME) is the largest pro-marriage organization in the world. Begun in 1952 in Spain, WME now exists in almost 100 countries throughout the world and in many different languages. WME promotes weekend experiences for couples wanting to re-connect with each other, re-connect with God, and find ways to make their marriage even better. WME was active in the Diocese of Harrisburg many years ago, and we have plans to bring it back in the near future. If you are interested in taking part in this effort, please contact our office.

For those looking for a WME weekend today, please see the national WME website to find weekends in nearby dioceses (Philadelphia, Baltimore, Greensburg, Arlington, etc.).

The word “Retrouvaille” is a French word meaning rediscovery. The program offers tools for couples in struggling or deeply strained marriages to rediscover a loving marital relationship. Thousands of couples in unloving relationships, separation, and even divorce have successfully overcome their marital problems and rediscovered a loving relationship by attending this program.

The Retrouvaille program consists of a weekend experience combined with a series of optional but strongly recommended 6 – 12 post-weekend sessions over three 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 to examine your lives together in a new and positive way.

Retrouvaille weekends are held twice a year in the Diocese of Harrisburg. For more information or to sign up, please see the Retrouvaille website.

Please see this list of marriage enrichment programs recommended by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.  Some of these programs may be employable at the parish or individual level.

Contacts

Kate Neri

Marriage & Family Ministries Administrative Assistant

Office: 717-657-4804 x317

Marianne Weltmer

Director for Life and Dignity

Phone: 717-657-4804 x322