History of Hawaii Interfaith Marriage Encounter

In 1952 in Barcelona, Spain, Fr. Gabriel Calvo was approached by a couple, Mercedes & Jaime Ferrer. They said, "Gabriel, we need spiritual direction as a couple and as a family . . . There is nothing to help us as a couple."

Thus began the original concept of Marriage Encounter in the need of a married couple to grow together and in the belief that the future transformation of the world begins at the heart of the family - the couple. Fr. Calvo and a group of encountered Spanish couples brought Marriage Encounter to the United States in 1966.

Since then, it has spread rapidly across the U.S. and in many other countries. Hundreds of thousands of couples have made a Marriage Encounter. Weekends are  given at retreat centers, in church facilities, private homes and schools, on camp grounds, and motels, as a ministry to married couples to help them grow together in love.

In 1975, Marv and Harriet Weissman moved to Hawaii and established Hawaii Interfaith Marriage Encounter.