LW, Yes, ME is a 3 day thing beginning Friday night and ending Sunday afternoon. You are at an advantage having it at your parish, as it makes it easier to attend as well as to find someone to watch your kids. We had to go about 80 miles away to a different state to attend. At the time, we had 5 kids with a 6th on the way, and like you we have no family nearby. We have a neighbor/friend who had gone to ME previously, and when I told her that we'd go but had no one to watch the kids she took all 5 (doubling the population in her house, bless her soul) for the weekend. Where it is being presented in your own parish, there is likely someone who you know that will gladly watch your kids to give you an opportunity to improve your marriage.
As far as your concerns about knowing the presenters, no need to worry; the sharing you do is strictly between you and your wife in the privacy of your own room. You don't share anything with the presenters at all. The format is you listen to a presentation followed by an example interaction between a presenting couple. Then you are given several minutes to write a letter to each other on a specific topic, and when you are done you are sent to your room to "Dialog", which is basically to say to read each other's letters and then discuss the letter and more specifically the feelings behind it. After a few minutes, you are called back for the next presentation. The whole focus of the weekend is on each other. The presenters are there just to facilitate the whole thing and give you the direction to get started and to demonstrate the techniques. there are no sharing sessions with the facilitators, nor with any other couples
Please give it a chance. What have you got to lose? Besides, if it does nothing for you, you don't have to stay for the whole thing (but please, do give it a chance).
