Transforming and enriching marriages since 1975.
Who We Are
United Marriage Encounter (UME) is an organization that exists to enhance and enrich the relationships of married couples through UME Weekends, resources, Workshops, and Community. Originally founded as both a program and a movement, we seek to help couples learn practical tools, that can be used in everyday life, to improve emotional intimacy, and communication skills, and explore ways to sustain a vibrant and fulfilling marital partnership.
A Brief History of United Marriage Encounter
1962
1967
1975
1982
1986
1991
1996
2024
Marriage Encounter began in 1952 in Barcelona, Spain. Fr Gabriel Calvo, a Catholic priest, founded a program called "Encuentro Conjugal." Direct translation: the Marriage Encounter program.
Marriage Encounter was translated into English and brought to the US by the Catholic Church. It was called World Wide Marriage Encounter.
On February 7-9 the first Weekend is held at Keuka College, located about an hour from Rochester with about 20 couples. Couples who attended the Weekend described it as "a gift from God!"
​
Over the next several years, World Wide Marriage Encounter expanded, hosting weekends in other locations across the United States and other worldwide locations.
Leadership and headquarters are moved from Rochester, NY to the Iowa-Illinois Community in order to better serve couples, communities, and Weekend volunteers.
Expansion efforts continue and growth accelerates.
More expansion efforts continue. Policies and procedures are put in to place to help Communities continue to grow and the Board takes on the challenge of keeping everyone on the same page even with Communities across the globe.
A renewed enthusiasm throughout the organization and Communities. Communities form in the United Kingdom and six new Communities develop over the next four years.
United Marriage Encounter will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024!
Share your UME story.
