Are you looking for a retreat prayer experience, designed primarily for a husband and wife with a good marriage, who want to deepen their relationship with each other, and with God? Are you looking for a way to further your marital spirituality, pray as a couple, and discern God‘s will for the two of you as a couple?

Do you know that the triune God loves you and wants to bless your Sacramental or marital union? You are invited to experience the Married Couples Retreat, and encounter each Person of the Holy Trinity.

 

 

What is Married Couples Retreat?
The goal of the retreat is to provide an atmosphere, a context, in which the couple can open themselves both as individuals and as a couple to a dialogue with God through Scripture. It is a prayer experience for husband and wife that provides participating couples with an opportunity for a renewal of their relationship as a couple with God. This method of couple prayer is drawn directly from the approach developed by Fr. Gabriel Calvo, DLP and has been presented on a weekend Catholic retreat called Marriage Retorno for over 40 years. Due to today's busy lifestyle, many couples cannot get away for a weekend. So the format of the Marriage Retorno format was adapted to be presented in a series of five weekly meetings. This retreat will provide an opportunity to: 

• Develop Prayer Life as a couple through Scripture

• Enhance Personal Reflection, and Private Couple Sharing

• Encourage trust and intamacy with God and with each other through supportive communication

• Discern God's plan as an individual and as a couple

• Gather with other couples in a faith community

Who is it for?
The Married Couples Retreat is an experience intended for every married couple that desires a deeper communion with one another and the Lord as a couple. All couples are welcome, including those dating or preparing for marriage. 
 

What Married Couple Retreat is NOT: 
This retreat is not a "prayer group" experience, a Scripture study course or Marriage Encounter type experience. This retreat does not encourage any particular apostolic endeavor nor is there any structured follow-up. Rather, it is a deepening of a couple's prayer life and spirituality, designed specifically for a married couple. 

 

What Happens on a Married Couples Retreat?

This retreat experience includes time alone, time as a couple, and time sharing with all in attendance using Scripture and lived experience in order to grow as a couple and as witnesses to God’s love in the world. There are three Trinity-based phases: (1) encountering the Father, in order to discern His will, especially as a unique spiritual couple; (2) encountering the Son, in order to follow Jesus’ example and teachings; and (3) encountering the Holy Spirit, in order to be witnesses of God’s love and unity.
 

When and where are Married Couples Retreats held?
The Married Couples Retreat is held at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Rockville, Maryland for one evening a week for 5 consecutive weeks. The dates and time are TBA. 
 

Do I have to be a Catholic?
Although the retreat is Catholic in origin, married couples of all faiths, and those with no faith tradition that want to pray together, are welcome and invited to experience the Married Couples Retreat.

Will someone try to convert me?
No attempt is made to convert anyone to a religion.

What does the Retreat Cost?

There is no fee for the retreat. The materials needed for each person are: 

• Folder for handouts

• Notebook or Journal

• Pencil and/or pen

• Bible (Old and New Testament), same edition as spouse
   

How can I obtain further information or sign up?
To participate in a Married Couples Retreat or for more information contact: Mary Clare Auger (301-251-9368)