We discovered our responsibilities in a sacramental marriage

August 28, 2019. Vincent and Mary-Anne Lee, married for 24 years now, share that they still apply the concepts learnt in the Marriage Encounter Weekend programme to stay happy as a couple and close as a family.

We attended the Marriage Encounter (ME) Weekend programme in 2007, nearly 12 years ago.

We had known each other for more than 10 years before getting married, and another 12 years as husband and wife.

We did not think the programme would tell us anything new about ourselves that we did not already know.

However, with each passing day during the weekend stay, we discovered our responsibilities in a sacramental marriage.

We might know each other well but God was often absent in our daily interactions as husband and wife.

We have learnt to consciously put God in the centre of our lives.

Then everything changes.

It is like a miracle!

We begin to love intimately by opening our hearts to each other and being sensitive towards each other’s feelings; to love and live responsibly as one body in Christ.

We make an effort not to take each other’s emotions and actions for granted.

ME is a blessing in our marriage and family.

We have grown spiritually and are active members in ME and our parish, Church of St Joseph (Bukit Timah).

Even our two children are roped in to serve sometimes in ME – they have witnessed our transformation and have been touched by the love of this mission-driven community.

But there is still work in progress – our marriage is a life-long journey together, come what may.

The ME Weekend is a valuable retreat that all married couples ought to put aside one weekend of quiet time, to focus on one another, and discover God’s plan in your marriage.

The Weekend will empower you with practical tools to better communicate and listen, and develop deeper understanding and trust in your spouse.

Your spouse is a gift from God, and a good marriage is a gift both of you can offer to God, and your children.