Retrouvaille, a Christian peer ministry program for couples in hurting marriages, will be holding a Retrouvaille Weekend in Bismarck, Jan. 20-22.
The Retrouvaille program consists of a weekend experience and a series of after-care sessions offered within the three months following the weekend phase. The Diocese of Bismarck, Office of Family Ministry, will sponsor the national Retrouvaille Weekend with ongoing after-care support in Bismarck.
The goals of the Retrouvaille weekend are to promote personal and couple healing, provide an environment for spiritual growth, create an empowering environment, teach the technique of dialogue, affirm the couples and help build their confidence, and help couples to incorporate the values of Retrouvaille into their married relationship.
Someone once said, "Marriage may be made in heaven, but it sure takes a lot of work on earth."
In our society, with the pressures of conflicting demands and too little time, personal relationships are often taken for granted. With all the distractions, we easily forget that strong, caring, loving relationships take work.
Without attention and care, marriages wither. Couples slowly and quietly drift apart or are being torn apart by terrible words and actions. Many are married in name only, or just stay together "for the sake of the kids." For many, it has been ages since they knew the joy of a loving relationship.
When infidelity, alcohol abuse, or drug dependency is involved, the situation may seem even more hopeless.
Retrouvaille is helping couples put the pieces back together and rebuild loving relationships. Retrouvaille is a French word meaning "rediscovery."
For information about Retrouvaille call Joyce at the Bismarck Diocese Office of Family Ministry, 701-222-3035 or toll free 1-877-405-7435. Registration is limited and only accepted through an interview process which is strictly confidential. This program is open to any married couple regardless of faith affiliation.