On Saturday, Feb. 25, 14 couples came together at St. Mary, Star of the Sea Parish in Aransas Pass for a married couples’ retreat sponsored by the Office of Family Life. Deacon Ron Martinez, Engaged Encounter Coordinator for the Office of Family Life, presented a talk on the language of romance and “keeping the fire of love burning.”
The retreat began with the celebration of Mass with Father Roy Jacob Kalayil, followed by an afternoon of presentations entitled “Created in God’s Image & Likeness,” “Deformed by Sin, Reformed by Grace,” “Stewardship of Time and Family” and “Stewardship of the Couple: Speaking the Language of Romance.”
After Deacon Martinez’s presentation, Father Kalayil treated the couples to a romantic dinner. Immediately following dinner, Father Kalayil addressed the need for reconciliation for all married couples.
Couples participated in group exercises and couple sharing. Deacon Nolte, assisted by his wife Connie, gave presentations on the human person and marriage as an image of God deformed by sin and reformed by grace. Ethel Dulak, Associate Director of Parish Development and Stewardship, spoke about the practice of stewardship of time and family.
This is the first in a series of three retreats being offered to parishes by the Office of Family Life. The next retreat is scheduled for March 24 at St. George Parish in George West. Pastors who are interested in having the retreats scheduled for their parish should contact Deacon Stephen Nolte or Yvonne Recio in the Office of Family Life.