Programs for Engaged Couples

The Office of Marriage & Family Life is offering a retreat experience for engaged couples to assist with their spiritual preparation for marriage. The retreat has two main objectives; 1) to help engaged couples deepen their relationship with God since they will need God’s help to live out their marital commitment and 2) to strengthen the couple’s commitment to one another in preparation for the celebration of the Sacrament of Matrimony. The retreat will help couples meet these goals by reflecting on the readings, prayers and promises of the wedding ceremony which can help them understand the significance of the commitment God is calling them to make. The schedule for the retreat includes a full day on Saturday from 9 AM to 4:30 PM and a morning session on Sunday from 9 AM to 11:30 AM followed by Mass.

Choice of Formats: 
Engaged couples will have the option of attending the retreat either “virtually” (on-line via Zoom) or “in-person” in the Westerfield Center at the Catholic Life Center, 1800 S. Acadian Thruway, Baton Rouge (see listings below).

COST: $100 per couple.

2023 Dates

NOW OPEN for REGISTRATION: 
January 21-22, 2023 (VIRTUAL)

Registration dates for months listed below TBA soon:
February 2023
March 2023
April 2023
May 2023 
June 2023
July 2023
August 2023
September 2023
October 2023
November 2023


RESERVE YOUR SPOT AT CALLED TO LOVE

Called to Love Registration Information:

Registration is only considered complete when both registration and payment are received.

Register Online with Credit Card

If you would prefer to pay by check, 
you can mail in a your registration. To begin, download and review the Mail In Instructions sheet for 'Called to Love' below. Then print out a copy of the Called to Love Mail In Form. Fill out the form and return it to us via mail, along with your check for $100.

Make check payable to: Diocese of Baton Rouge. 

Mailing Address
Office of Marriage and Family Life
Diocese of Baton Rouge
P.O. Box 2028
Baton Rouge, LA 70821

Catholic Engaged Encounter (CEE) is a two-day retreat designed to give couples the opportunity to deepen their relationship with each other and with God. Couples are invited to dialogue honestly and intensively about their prospective lives together including their strengths and weaknesses, their desires, their ambitions, their goals, their attitudes about money, sex, children, family and their role in the Church and society. Through these dialogues, couples are challenged to explore their relationships in a much deeper, more honest way than they have before.

A team consisting of two married couples and a priest present a series of concepts throughout the weekend. After each presentation the engaged couples are given time to reflect individually on important questions and write their thoughts in their workbooks. Then, they are given additional time to discuss their responses with each other. These personal reflections and couple dialogues lead to an increase in communication and a better understanding of the importance of God in their marriage. CEE has also made the necessary changes to be Covid-19 compliant by having each couple only interact with each other and return to their homes at night.

For more information and any updates go to the CEE webiste.
Click here to go to the Engaged Encounter website.

This is a program for engaged couples in which one or both parties have been previously married. It involves private sessions with the host couple over a flexible period of days and can be tailored to personal schedules.

How to Get Started:
Contact one of our host couples to set up your first appointment

Karen and Dwayne Vidrine
225-937-6826
225-229-2476
adisneymom421@gmail.com

Vera and Ben Dunbar
225-324-2939
225-324-5808
vera717@cox.net

You can also call Mila Gernon at 225-242-0323  in the Marriage and Family Life Office.