Roles of an Engaged Encounter Community
The EE community is meant to be a flexible community, whereby tasks are divided so that no one couple is burdened by the requirements of presenting each weekend. Through community, the ministry will flourish. Community members should be willing to change roles, to encourage new community members, and to continually pray for the community and the engaged couples we serve. Click on the roles to read a description
| Prayer Couples | Prayer Couple Coordinator |
| Presenter Couples | Presenting Priests |
| Greeter Couples | Registration Couples |
| Supply and Set-up Couples | Weekend Wrap-up Couple |
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Prayer couples are couples who pray during the weekend for a specific couple. While there is not a set prayer the couple is to pray, if one is desired, the prayer cards contain an appropriate prayer. Prayer couples will be contacted prior to a scheduled EE weekend. The couples will each be given a name of an engaged couple who will be on the weekend. The prayer couple will pray for this couple throughout their weekend, and the engaged couples will receive a card at the end of the weekend with the name and address of their prayer couple.<< close window >>
Prayer Couple Coordinator <<back>>
This is a job given to one couple. This couple will be responsible for obtaining the couple list from Lisa Nord prior to the weekend (2-3 weeks in advance). They will contact and assign prayer couples to an engaged couple. Prayer couples may also develop other creative ways to make this "prayer partner" experience more meaningful to the engaged couples. For example, a prayer couple coordinator may contact the parents of each engaged couple to request prayer letters from them for the couple. They may have the prayer couples write letters as well.<< close window >>
Each weekend is presented by a junior couple, a senior couple, and a priest. A junior couple is one who has been married less than seven years. A senior couple has been married more than seven years. There are several talks given on an EE weekend, and those talks are divided between the junior and senior couples. Besides giving the talks, the team couples lead prayer and facilitate the flow of the weekend.<< close window >>
Presenting priests are an important part of the presenting team. They have a part in each of the Junior and Senior Couple talks given on the weekend. During their portions of the talks, priests speak about their own experience of vocation, relationship with others and with God, and the important role married couples play in the life of the Church. Priests, through their witness, help the engaged couples understand the concern and love the Church has for them and their future marriage. A presenting priest will also hear confessions and offer Mass for the couples on the weekend. Ideally, presenting priests would be present for the entire weekend. However, that is often impossible. We ask that priests who are interested in serving in this ministry make a commitment to be available for confessions and Mass at the appointed times, and also that they try to participate in as much of the weekend as possible.<< close window >>
Greeter couples are the couples who meet each engaged couple as they show up and show them to their rooms around the EE location. This allows the team couples to be free to meet for prayer and planning while the couples are arriving. Greeter couples will be scheduled to greet on a weekend or weekends that fit into their schedule. Greeter couples will arrive at the retreat center at around 6:30 p.m. on the Friday evening of the EE weekend, and they will stay until the last couple arrives (approximately 2 hours). Greeters will be given a room assignment list, and they will greet the couples and help them find their rooms and get settled in. Four or five greeter couples will be needed each weekend.<< close window >>
On each weekend, one or two couples will be needed to handle registration. These couples will check off each couple’s name as they arrive at the retreat center, hand out nametags, and collect registration money from couples who have a balance to pay. Registration couples will be given a list of registrants and their payment status when they arrive at the retreat center. Registration couples will be asked to arrive at the retreat center at 6:30 p.m. and will stay until the last couple arrives (approximately 2 hours).<< close window >>
Supply and Set-up Couples <<back>>
One supply couple will be needed to coordinate the use of the supplies. Notify Family Life coordinator of any supplies that need to be ordered from Central supply, and pick up any other supplies that may be needed (more pens, candles, emergency supplies, batteries, etc.). Turn in receipts for reimbursement. The couple will make sure that all supplies are delivered to the retreat center prior to the weekend, and they will take care of any necessary set-up (i.e. placing chairs, putting workbooks and pens on each chair, setting out banners, etc.). The couple will make arrangements to pick up and store supplies after each weekend.<< close window >>
Weekend Wrap-up Couple <<back>>
The wrap-up couple is responsible for taking down each weekend and distributing materials back to their appropriate location. One or two couples will be needed for each weekend. Tasks include general clean-up of the retreat space, placing banners and other supplies back in appropriate storage boxes, making arrangements to get supplies back to the supply couple, and returning Time and Talent sheets, evaluations, and Two-by-Two letters to the Family Life office (these things will likely be in piles and can be collected at the end of the weekend). Wrap-up couples will need to arrive at the retreat center on Sunday afternoon (approximately 2:30), and will be there for 1-2 hours in clean-up.<<close window >>