World Marriage Day & M.E.'s Sweetheart Ball

As an annual event, the CNMI Chapter of the World Wide Marriage Encounter celebrates World Marriage Day. This year will be a particularly special event on February 8, 2009 when Pastor Greg Dickerman (encountered April 2008) and Pastor Roger Abe (encountered November 2008) of the Saipan Community Church join Father Ryan Jimenez for an ecumenical celebration.

Exact time and place of the celebration will be announced once details are finalized. Stay tuned!

Hi all lovers!

February 14th is Valentine's Day and the M.E. Sweetheart's Ball! Mark & Jenni Aguon (Fall Weekend Coordinators) have graciously volunteered their time again to organize this romantic event for all ENCOUNTERED COUPLES!

Again, time and place of the Ball will be announced shortly! Get ready to put on your dancing shoes for some M.E. fun!

Steps Along the Journey

Congratulations to all the couples who signed up for Steps Along the Journey, a 10 session course designated to reinforce and strengthen the concepts learned on the ME Weekend. Steps is essentially the graduate program as it allows couples to delve more deeply into the basic ME principles and apply them to their daily lives. Steps also builds close, new relationships among couples in the ME community which only enhances the experience. You discover that many couples face the same challenges and pressures in life and that connection builds a magical bond, unlike any other.

Some former Steps Couples include Dave & Maggie Attao, Jay & Juanette Atalig, Perry & Leona Sablan. Steps is not limited to newly encountered couples. Anyone who has experienced the ME Weekend, whether last year or twenty years ago, are highly encouraged to participate.

Steps enhances the relationship not only between the couples but resonates to other family members, co-workers and friends. Developing better communication skills is crucial for everyone.


If you are interested in joining the next program, please contact the numbers below ASAP:

Steps Along the Journey
Sign-Ups and Scheduling is handled by
Coordinators: Rex & Clarie Kosack
Telephone No. 322-8800
E-Mail: clarie.kosack@saipan.com or rex.kosack@saipan.com

CNMI Marriage Encounter

The CNMI Marriage Encounter Community is pleased to introduce its newest members to the M.E. Community. Seventeen happy couples completed the Weekend on Sunday, November 16, 2008.

Don & Jeanette Boltz from California, Charlie & Esther Keone from Guam, Charles & Cathy Cepeda and Father Ike Ayuyu formed the presenting team for the Weekend.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter offers a weekend experience designed to give married couples the opportunity to learn a technique of loving communication that they can use for the rest of their lives. It's a chance to look deeply into their relationship with each other and with God. It's a time to share their feelings, hopes and dreams with each other.

The emphasis of the Marriage Encounter weekend is on the communication between husbands and wives. The weekend provides a conducive environment for couples to spend time together, away from the distractions and tensions of everyday life, while encouraging them to focus on each other and their relationship.

It's not a retreat, marriage clinic, group sensitivity, or a substitute for counseling. It's a unique approach aimed at revitalizing Marriage.

This is a time for you and your spouse to be alone together, to rediscover each other and together focus on your relationship for an entire weekend. Every marriage deserves that kind of attention!

For information on the upcoming Weekend scheduled for March 27-29, 2009, please contact John & Vicky Mafnas at 285-8454.