Today’s families are seriously threatened by the outside pressure of materialistic society. But they may suffer even more from inner problems, especially the lack of communication, understanding and acceptance among family members.
FIRES Family Encounter was born with the faith that, despite all negative tendencies or experiences, there is a mysterious „thermonuclear energy” of love hidden in each family. This energy of love can be and is in fact „liberated” when parents and children truly encounter and honestly communicate with each other.
Family Encounter, therefore, offers families – parents and teenage children – an opportunity of encounter, reconciliation and intense and profound communication. During the program, participating families are invited to listen to talks by a team family, who share their lived experiences. Presentations are followed by periods of quiet reflection and family sharing about handout questions. The two-day program includes Holy Mass and prayers led by a Catholic priest.
Started and conducted within the Catholic Church, Family Encounter is open to non-Catholics or non-Christians as well. It is a special and unique family experience for each member of the family.
As a possible follow-up of the program in their homes, participant families are offered Around the Table, a guidebook by Fr. Gabriel Calvo. This booklet contains outlines for twelve family meetings: twelve great opportunities to listen to each other, to communicate and understand each other better, to encounter and, therefore, to grow as a family (see Publications).
Original Marriage Encounter and FIRES by Gabriel Calvo 
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