During our weekends we have a couple from our community praying for every couple that is on the weekend that they get the most out of the weekend. This is done from home and while it may seem like a very small item, it is a very important way of helping the engaged couples on the weekend. Prayer couples will receive the names of an engaged couple so they can offer prayers throughout the weekend.

Do you like meeting new people and making new friends? Excellent! Consider becoming a Setup Couple. We need help greeting couples as they arrive Friday evening. Setup couples should arrive by 6:00 p.m. to be ready to receive engaged couples arriving at 6:30 p.m. Setup couples will help check in the engaged couples, guide them to their rooms, and show them the main areas used at the facility on the weekend. It is a chance to chat with engaged couples and answer their questions. Sound easy and fun? It is!

This is a very important behind the scenes role. The supply couple maintains the inventory of supplies to insure the engaged couples and presenting couples have all the necessary supplies, workbooks, etc for each weekend. This role can be performed at the supply couple's convenience and does not require the couple to be present on Engaged Encounter weekends.

This couple provides a personal interface to the engaged couples for registration. While much of our registration process is automated with this website, the engaged couples may contact this couple if needed. The registration couple handles last minute schedule changes that are not available with the website. This couple also reviews all registration to ensure all information is complete.

A lot goes on during an EE weekend, especially behind the scenes, and the host couple is there to ensure the weekend flows smoothly. Host couples assist the presenting couples by offering support, running errands, ringing the bell, and assisting in any other matters that may arise. They also help guide the engaged couples around the retreat center and, along with the presenting couples, serve meals.

This is also a great opportunity for couples considering becoming presenting couples to observe the weekend experience from "the other side".

Host couples may attend the entire weekend or just Saturday depending on the number of registered couples. While the engaged couples dialog after each presentation, the presenting couples, priest, and host couple dialog as an enrichment to their vocation of marriage or priesthood.

On the weekend you were introduced to the presenting team comprised of two married couples and possibly a priest who shared some of their life stories with you. Becoming a presenting couple or priest gives you a chance to do the same thing. If you are serious about marriage as a sacrament and want to support and guide engaged couples, then we need you as a presenting couple or priest!

One of the two married couples in the presenting team has typically been married for 10 or more years. The other married couple is recently married. Birmingham CEE is in need of additional presenting couples of both types as well as priests; however, our greatest need is for the more recently married. If you decide you would like to present, an experienced presenting couple will work with you over a timeframe convenient to you to write your talks following the National Catholic Engaged Encounter Outline. A large benefit for you is the opportunity to regularly be around other married couples and families, who share your values and will support you as you journey through marriage. We ask our presenting couples to present at two of the ten weekends Birmingham CEE conducts each year.

While the engaged couples dialog after each presentation, the presenting couples, priest, and host couple dialog as an enrichment to their vocation of marriage or priesthood.